Tackling Foreign interference in elections, fighting dis-information among key global challenges, says Ireland Electoral Commission CEO

“A recent study that looked into elections in 52 countries and in 92% of them there was evidence of interference. We can’t assume we will be exempted and we can’t be complacent here as well. It’s a risk we have to manage,” he said.

O’Leary and the chairperson of the Irish commission, Justice Marie Baker, are on a four-day visit to Delhi and Mumbai. On Wednesday, they were at the EC.

Asked about the exchange of experiences between the Irish and Indian election officials, he said: “I was very interested in the logistical side of things, the operational side of things, so that is what I learnt. What they can learn from us, I suspect, it’s probably this collaboration. Some of the shared challenges that face election management bodies all over the world are all very similar. It is the question of electoral integrity, can we trust the process, can you trust results, how we deal with mis and dis-information, the accuracy and completeness of the electoral roll – all of these fundamental tenets of democracy are so important.”