Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Sunil Arora, today underscored the commitment of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) across the world, for the conduct of timely, free, fair and participatory elections to foster democracy in the world. Herecalledformer US President Abraham Lincoln’s allusion to democracies as governments“of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
CEC also recalled a quote by Nelson Mandela: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Speaking at the conclusion of the International Webinar on “Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting Elections during COVID-19: Sharing Country Experiences”, Shri Arora highlighted the common threads that emerged from the event.
CEC emphasized that today’s webinar brings out clearly the importance of training the officials involved with the conduct of elections.
During his intervention, Election Commissioner Shri Sushil Chandra emphasised that in the shadow of COVID-19, elections have not only to be free and fair, but also ensure safety for the electors as well as polling officials and security personnel on duty. He said that presentations from various countries show comprehensive preparedness required before, during and after elections. The ultimate concern is to ensure that voters feel safe while voting in covid times. He also emphasised effective communication with voters regarding safety protocols adopted by the Commission.
