The team from the EVM manufacturing companies, BEL and ECIL, will be deputed next month. The matter came up during a bilateral meeting between the three member Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner, Dr. S Y Quraishi and the visiting delegation from Pakistan led by their Chief Election Commissioner Justice Hamid Ali Mirza in New Delhi. Pakistan Election Commission is actively considering introduction of EVMs in their elections and looking at various options. Justice Mirza, while commending the various achievements of the Election Commission of India in Election Management, expressed desire for close collaboration between the two Commissions. Dr Quraishi assured the Pakistan side of sharing of all expertise and of other necessary support.

Election Commissions of Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Afghanistan, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, USA and Russia and head of the US based International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) met the Election Commission separately after the launch of the National Voters’ Day seeking support and mutual collaboration in electoral management. Over 30 Election Management Bodies and related international organisations joined the Election Commission’s Diamond Jubilee valedictory and the launch of the National Voters day by President of India.

Several visiting Commissions commended the National Voters Day as an outstanding and innovative initiative and wanted to introduce the concept in their respective countries.

Nepal requested for support in further expansion of the EVM use, already introduced in that country with Indian support. Nepalese Chief Elcetion Commissioner Mr. Neel Kantha Upreti requested for early signing of MoU with ECI and wanted India’s help in drafting electoral laws. Ethiopia also wanted the support of ECI in introducing electronic voting and in automation of its electoral roll. Election Commission of Thailand requested for signing of a MOU with ECI at the earliest and proposed the participation of election officials from Thailand in the training Institute, IIDEM, proposed to be set up by ECI. They requested for annual visits by the Heads of Electoral Commissions on alternative basis.

Russia offered to exchange personnel for learning of technological application at polling station level, and also on monitoring of the use of media by political parties. Election Commissions of India and USA discussed ways to support election management in third countries through creation of a joint mechanism. The Election Commission also discussed with IFES the methods to plan curriculum building and course participation in the proposed IIDEM.