CEC Gyanesh Kumar cites record voter turnout as proof of trust in electoral system

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar said the highest-ever voter turnouts recorded in recent Assembly Elections reflect the trust Indian electors place in the country’s electoral system, addressing the Election Commission of India’s Third One-Day Conference for Media and Communication Officers. He said every action of the Commission is grounded in the Constitution of India, electoral laws and written instructions issued transparently over time.

CEC Kumar also cautioned officials about false narratives circulating on social media, saying they must engage proactively to prevent the spread of misinformation. Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi, also addressing the conference, warned that AI, deepfakes and synthetic content intended to mislead are being spread by motivated actors to erode institutional trust, and asked officers to counter such attempts based on Commission rules and guidelines.

The conference brought together around 200 Media Nodal Officers, Social Media Nodal Officers, District Media Nodal Officers, District PROs and senior State Department of Public Relations officers from 10 States and Union Territories.

Sessions covered communication strategy through the election cycle, ECINET and media-related laws, along with practical training on amplifying press notes, tackling misinformation, and engaging young electors through Electoral Literacy Clubs. Participants also saw demonstrations of electoral roll preparation, polling and counting processes, followed by a Q&A with the Commission.