The Assembly elections in Kerala, Puducherry and Assam attracted global attention, with 38 delegates from 22 countries visiting India to witness India’s electoral process first-hand under the poll panel’s International Election Visitors Program (IEVP) 2026, the Election Commission (EC) said on Saturday.In a statement, the Election Commission said delegates were impressed by the scale, accuracy and vibrancy of the voting and described the experience as a “true festival of democracy”. Croatia’s Branimir Farkas said in a statement, “Indian voting, it is a true festival of democracy for the whole world… The biggest thing for me is the enthusiasm of the people to vote. We can only learn from this process; it is a big process and done right.”The statement said the international delegates began their two-day visit to Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on April 8 and 9 by visiting despatch and distribution centres, where they witnessed the orderly movement of election materials as well as polling parties through well-planned logistics and established standard operating procedures.The statement said that on the morning of polling day, the delegates observed the mock poll and later visited polling stations in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry to witness the actual polling process.The delegates expressed their appreciation for the record voter participation, meticulous planning and seamless execution of the elections by the ECI.“The delegates also interacted with Chief Electoral Officers and State Police Nodal Officers of the respective states on the overall conduct of the elections as well as security arrangements. They also visited the CCTV control rooms set up at the CEO offices to monitor 100 per cent webcasting of polling stations and described them as ‘strong pillars of transparency’,” it said.The Election Commission said the delegates also praised the “inclusive, participatory and accessible features” at polling stations, including ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers and crèche facilities, as well as dedicated booths managed by women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).The statement said the IEVP is a flagship initiative of the Election Commission aimed at promoting international cooperation and engagement with election management bodies (EMBs) and global organisations.“The program provides a comprehensive overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms and operational architecture, while introducing delegates to best practices and innovations in election management,” the statement said.