India to Lead International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
India has been invited to chair the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), marking the first time the nation has received this honor. This invitation recognizes India's successful and robust electoral process. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will officially assume the Chair on December 3, 2026, in Stockholm, Sweden.
A Moment of Pride for India
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar expressed his pride in this achievement, stating, "The world recognises the successful conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections in India." He further emphasized that this invitation from the 37 democratic countries that comprise International IDEA is a significant moment for India and its Election Commission officials.
India's Role in International IDEA
Founded in 1995, International IDEA is an inter-governmental organization consisting of 35 member nations. The United States and Japan participate as Observers. The organization has held observer status at the UN General Assembly since 2003. India, a founding member, actively contributes to:
- Shaping governance frameworks
- Conducting electoral research
- Implementing training and capacity-building programs
India's Electoral Expertise
As the world's largest democracy, India brings extensive experience in managing elections for its vast electorate of over 900 million registered voters. This expertise is expected to be invaluable in strengthening Election Management Bodies worldwide during India's tenure as Chair.
Global Electoral Representation
India boasts the largest number of registered voters among International IDEA's membership and observer nations, with 991 million voters, representing 44.5% of the total electorate of 2,225,549,481. The following table shows the top countries by voter count:
| Country | Number of Voters |
|---|---|
| India | 991,000,000 |
| United States | 234,504,358 |
| Indonesia | 204,421,612 |
Other significant contributors include Brazil, Japan, Mexico, and the Philippines. In contrast, smaller countries such as Luxembourg, Cabo Verde, and Barbados have significantly fewer electors.
