International delegates from 22 countries praised the conduct of elections in India after visiting polling stations in the states of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. The Election Commission said.
Thirty-eight delegates participated in the International Election Visitors Program (IEVP) 2026. They visited the three regions on April 8 and 9 to observe the scale and management of the Assembly elections.
Delegates monitor preparations for the poll
The delegations began their visit by inspecting the transmission and distribution centers. They observed how polling teams and materials were transported using standard procedures and planned logistics.
They also met Senior election officials and police officials to understand election administration and security arrangements.
In the observation rooms, they reviewed the polling stations’ 100% electronic broadcast system, which they described as important for transparency.
Visits to polling stations
On polling day, April 9, delegates first watched mock exit polls and then visited polling stations in Kamrup (metro and rural) in Assam, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, and parts of Puducherry.
And they noticed Voting process and interaction with voters and polling staff.
Delegates saw arrangements such as ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers and crèche facilities at polling stations. They also visited stalls run entirely by women and people with disabilities.
Many described the arrangements as comprehensive and well organised.
Paulus Chigweda, from Namibia, said: “We are very impressed with the way the polling stations were organized, with the facilities very well prepared, including wheelchairs and nursery facilities.”
technology
The teams visited media monitoring centers in the provinces and reviewed election monitoring systems. They also witnessed the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and continuous monitoring through webcasts.
“One of the great things about India is the use of electronic voting machines,” said Abubakar Mahmoud Koroma, from Sierra Leone. “Some of the things we have learned we will be able to take home and see how we can implement them. It is like a festival, that should be the spirit.”
In Puducherry, delegates noted additional measures such as drone monitoring and flying teams. In Kerala, they visited a Generation Z-themed polling booth. In rural Assam, they observed health screening facilities at polling stations.
“Festival of Democracy”
Delegates said they were impressed by voter participation and the smooth conduct of the voting process. Many of them described the process as a “festival of democracy” and said there were lessons for other countries to learn.
Branimir Farkas, from Croatia, said, “The Indian vote is a real festival of democracy for the whole world… What overwhelms me is the enthusiasm of people to vote. We can only learn from this process, it is a huge process and it was done right.”
“The election process in India is definitely a place of learning,” said Yuk-Kip Espadas Ancona, from Mexico.
Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled to be held on April 23 in a single phase, while West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The results in the two states, along with Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, are scheduled to be announced on May 4.
