Thiruvananthapuram

Ina significant moment underscoring India’s electoral credibility, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out the red carpet for a high-powered international delegation to witness the Kerala Assembly elections under its International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026.

Kerala, on Thursday at 7 a.m, started to vote to elect 140 legislators.

A 43-member delegation representing 23 countries arrived in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the first phase of the IEVP.

The visit is aimed at providing a firsthand understanding of India’s robust and technology-driven electoral process.

The team also distributed sweets to first-time voters, as that was a new practice to energise the first-time voters, an initiative of the chief electoral officer, Rathan U Khelkar, here.

In Kerala, the delegation’s polling day itinerary on April 9 is tightly packed, reflecting the state’s diverse and inclusive election management model.

The observers began early at 6 a.m. with a mock poll at Booth No. 104 at Cotton Hill LPS, Vazhuthacaud, an exercise designed to demonstrate transparency and system integrity before the commencement of voting.

The team also visited a women-friendly polling station at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, followed by a model polling booth at Government Model GHSS, Pattom, both of which showcase enhanced voter participation.

A youth-managed booth at Government Girls HSS, Peroorkada, forms another key stop, highlighting efforts to actively involve younger citizens in the democratic process. Beyond polling stations, the delegation visited the district collectorate control room to gain insights into backend coordination and real-time monitoring, critical components of managing elections at scale.

Officials said the initiative is intended not only to demonstrate India’s electoral efficiency and magnitude but also to facilitate the exchange of global best practices in election management.

The programme reinforces India’s standing as a benchmark in democratic governance. Earlier, the ECI posted on X, "International delegates under the International Election Visitors’ Programme (#IEVP) visited polling stations in Kochi, Kerala, and witnessed the polls, celebrating the Festival of Democracy. They appreciated the large-scale and meticulous arrangements of the polls."

Voting began at 7 a.m. and will continue till 6 p.m. across more than 30,000 polling stations, where the fate of 883 candidates will be decided.