National conference of State Election Commissioners on February 24

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host a National Conference of the State Election Commissioners (SECs) later this month, aiming to build synergy in the functioning of the central and State poll bodies with respect to electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal frameworks.

State Election Commissions are created by law by the respective States under the empowering provisions of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. SECs are vested with the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to Panchayats and Municipal Bodies.

The National SEC Conference is being held after a gap of over 25 years. The last such conference was held in 1999, the ECI said in a statement on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).

The conference, to be held on February 24, is expected to be attended by all State Election Commissioners as well as the Chief Electoral Officers of all States and Union Territories.

The conference will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.

State Election Commissioners will participate along with their legal and technical experts and present their views.

“The primary objective of the Conference is to build synergy in the functioning of ECI and SECs with respect to the electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal frameworks,” the ECI statement said.

Participants will take part in discussion sessions on electoral laws on elector eligibility in the States and Union Territories, technological interventions spearheaded by the ECI such as the recently launched ECINET digital platform, and electronic voting machines, among other topics. The ECI will also lend its expertise from its experience in the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections as per the Constitution of India and the legal framework of the country.