24/07/2026
International Conference on Model Standards for Election Technology
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, organised the International Conference on Model Standards for Election Technology in association with the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).
The conference was inaugurated by Dr. A. Kowsigan, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala. The inaugural session also featured a welcome address by Smt. Sharmila C., Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, and a keynote address by Dr. Saji Gopinath, Vice Chancellor, Digital University Kerala.
The technical sessions brought together distinguished experts to deliberate on key aspects of election technology. Dr. Preetam Mukherjee spoke on Security and Certification in Election Technology, Franklin John of the Kerala Blockchain Academy presented on Application of Blockchain in Elections, Dr. D. Dhanuraj (CPPR) discussed Identifying Appropriate Technology for Different Stages of Elections, Dr. Rekha Oleschak Pillai of the University of Fribourg shared insights on Federalism and Elections: The Swiss Experience, Dr. Balakrishnan K. of NUALS addressed the Legal Framework to Support and Regulate the Use of Technology, and Adv. Shanmugham D. Jayan, Senior Advocate, Kerala High Court, spoke on Legal Frameworks in Practice.
The afternoon session featured a panel discussion on “Challenges and Lessons Learnt in the Perspective of Model Standards for Election Technology”, moderated by the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala. This was followed by a session on Election Model Standards by Ajay Kumar, IIIDEM, New Delhi, and a concluding session on Reflections and Next Steps, where academic experts and practitioners shared recommendations for advancing model standards in election technology.
The conference provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and meaningful dialogue on promoting secure, transparent, accessible and trustworthy election technology.
