Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Thursday sounded a note of caution against fake narratives, saying they erode trust in electoral processes, and noted that the misinformation is typically timed to target the vitals of poll process.

Making this assertion at an international conference of election management bodies organised by Election Commission of India, he said while technology offers significant opportunities, it also brings challenges like cybersecurity threats and misinformation. He urged Election Management Bodies to streamline strategies for addressing these technological challenges to effectively mitigate the risks.

Sounding a note of caution against fake narratives which erode trust in electoral processes, he said that such fake narratives are typically timed at crucial junctures of the election process to target its very vitals.

In his address, CEC Kumar also outlined key trends shaping the future of elections, including AI-driven processes, online and remote voting, biometric authentication and increased global collaboration.

He urged the participating poll management bodies to explore the opportunities with technological advancements in making elections more transparent, inclusive and accessible.

He underscored the role of election management bodies in not only safeguarding electoral processes globally but also expanding their reach and impact.

Poll organisations from Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Indonesia and Kazakhstan placed their concerns on disinformation, misinformation and fake narratives on social media affecting electoral integrity while making their presentations on their electoral experience in 2024.

CEC of Mauritius Abdool Rahman also stressed on the menace of fake news, saying it undermines voters' trust in the poll bodies.

Highlighting a particular case of fake online applications for recruitment of election staff, Rahman expressed concern over the use of technology and social media in intensifying the menace of misinformation and disinformation during elections.

A representative of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, while expressing concern over the rising trend of fake news, sought suggestions on tackling fake news on social media.

Commissioner, General Election Commission of Indonesia, Idhan Holik spoke about their experience of using a dedicated WhatsApp channel to tackle misinformation in real time.

The ECI is hosting the two-day international conference. It brings together representatives from Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of nearly 13 countries and international organisations for discussions on key issues of contemporary election management.

The conference on the theme ‘Global Election Year 2024: Reiteration of Democratic Spaces, Takeaway for EMBs’ is hosted by the ECI based on the varied experiences of EMBs in conducting elections in 2024, in India and the other countries.

Nearly 30 representatives from the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of 13 countries including Bhutan, Georgia, Namibia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Ireland, Mauritius, Philippines, Russian Federation, Tunisia, and Nepal are attending.

In his address, CEC Kumar also reflected that 2024 was a defining year as a test for EMBs for reaffirmation of democratic values amidst challenging and complexities. He emphasized on the critical role of technology and digital innovations in enhancing efficiency, transparency and voter confidence.

He underscored the role of EMBs in not only safeguarding electoral processes globally but also expanding their reach and impact.

Highlighting India’s historic general elections with a record participation of 647 million voters and over one million polling stations, CEC Kumar said the elections were also more inclusive with greater participation especially among women, elderly aged 85+, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and the third gender.

CEC Kumar underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in capacity building and global cooperation as vital to safeguarding democratic processes and strengthening election management worldwide.

Bhutan's Chief election commissioner Dasho Sonam Topgay said the electronic voting machines provided by India have brought process efficiencies during polls in his country.  He said the EVMs have won the trust of the people in Bhutan.

Thanking India for providing the EVMs, he lauded the process efficiencies brought in by the machines since their use in the elections in that country.

Speaking on digital IDs, Topgay said Bhutan has a biometric Unified National ID which is used for voter authentication.  Bhutan is exploring the possibility of online voting in future elections, he told the gathering.

Besides Bhutan, a limited number of Indian EVMs are used in Nepal and Namibia, EC functionaries said.

Public undertakings BEL and ECIL produce EVMs for the Election Commission.