India and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on electronic voting machine technology and knowledge sharing in Jakarta [1, 2].
The agreement is significant because it supports Indonesia's goal to modernize its electoral system. As the third largest democracy, Indonesia currently conducts the largest single-day election in the world [1].
The pact was finalized during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jakarta in early 2024 [1, 2]. The cooperation involves the Election Commission of India and Indonesia's General Election Commission [1, 2].
Jakarta intends to shift away from traditional paper ballots to implement electronic voting in time for the 2029 general elections [1]. This transition aims to streamline the voting process in a country known for the immense scale of its polling days [1].
The EVM agreement was part of a broader diplomatic push during the visit. More than 10 agreements were signed between the two nations across various sectors [1].
By leveraging India's experience with large-scale electronic voting, Indonesia seeks to reduce the logistical burdens associated with paper-based systems. The partnership focuses on the transfer of technical expertise, and the implementation of secure voting hardware [1, 2].
“Indonesia aims to modernise its electoral system and shift from paper ballots to electronic voting”
This partnership signals a strategic export of Indian electoral infrastructure to other major democracies. For Indonesia, adopting EVMs is a logistical necessity to manage the world's largest single-day election more efficiently. For India, the deal reinforces its position as a global leader in election technology and strengthens bilateral ties with a key Southeast Asian partner.
