USAID, Soros, ECI & DY Qureshi: Unveiling ECI’s 2012 Partnership with a Soros-Backed Agency for Voter Turnout in India
- MGMMTeam
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
On February 16th, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of the United States shared a post on X revealing a list of funding initiatives that had been recently halted or cancelled. Among the items on the list, one funding allocation caught attention in India. According to DOGE’s post, $486 million was allocated to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), which included $21 million for promoting 'voter turnout' in India—equivalent to Rs 182 crores at the current USD to INR exchange rate.
What is CEPPS?
Founded in 1995, CEPPS (as described on its now-removed About Us page) is a coalition of nonprofit, nonpartisan, and nongovernmental organizations committed to advancing democratic institutions and governance across the globe. The organization claims to unite the expertise of three major international bodies: the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which act as the primary channels through which CEPPS operates in various countries.
CEPPS asserts that it fosters democratic development by working with political parties, election bodies, parliaments, civil society organizations, and democracy advocates. It has been active in over 140 countries, delivering a wide range of democracy, rights, and governance (DRG) programs, often in collaboration with USAID and other donors to implement large-scale initiatives adapted to diverse political environments.
The organization is primarily funded by USAID, with additional support from other international donors to fulfill its global mission. Over time, CEPPS claims to have supported election monitoring, civic engagement, and institutional growth, promoting democratic principles across Asia, Africa, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Notably, during our research, we found that CEPPS has received more than $2 billion in USAID funding since its establishment.
Interestingly, CEPPS’s website is no longer operational. Despite receiving millions in funding from USAID and operating since 1995, the organization took down its website after January 23, 2025. This date is significant as it marks the last archived version of the website on archive.org.
How CEPPS influences elections around the globe
We reviewed a document titled "Review of the Fiscal Year 2024 United States Agency for International Development Budget," dated April 26, 2023, which specifically stated that USAID allocated $2 billion to CEPPS for Elections and Political Processes (EPP) programs. Notably, in Fiscal Year 2021, CEPPS received 66% of USAID's EPP funding. Additional information on Democratic Elections and Political Processes reveals how billions of dollars have been used to directly intervene in elections worldwide, under the pretext of supporting democratic development.
At first glance, these documents make it clear that while CEPPS portrays itself as an organization dedicated to bolstering democracy, its true role raises serious concerns about foreign election interference. Funded primarily by USAID, a U.S. government agency, CEPPS has received over $2 billion since 1995 for election-related initiatives in more than 140 countries. This substantial funding and influence suggest that CEPPS is not merely an observer of democratic processes but an active participant in shaping them.
A major concern is that CEPPS doesn't limit its efforts to assisting election commissions; it explicitly engages with political parties, civil society groups, and even election monitoring bodies. This gives it the power to sway political dynamics in the countries where it operates. The structure of the Democratic Elections and Political Processes (DEPP) program, under which CEPPS operates, allows the U.S. to fund and support selected groups, potentially influencing election results in their favor.
Furthermore, a 2019 USAID Inspector General report highlighted that relying on a single organization like CEPPS for political party assistance exposes USAID to significant risks, including loss of credibility and allegations of foreign interference. Despite this caution, CEPPS continued to dominate USAID’s funding, receiving 66% of its election-related budget in 2021 alone. This pattern indicates a consistent funneling of substantial resources to a small number of U.S.-backed organizations with the ability to influence elections globally.
CEPPS presence in India
As previously mentioned, CEPPS operates through three key organizations: the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). To underscore the significant financial role USAID has played in Indian elections over the years, it's important to note that CEPPS spent $318,614 in India in FY 2018, as detailed in its audit report.
CEPPS’s funding in India was channeled through IFES.
Now, here’s where it gets concerning. IFES, which entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Election Commission of India (ECI) in 2012 under then-Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, is not only funded by USAID but also by various private entities with potentially dubious interests.
In May 2012, the Election Commission of India (ECI) signed an MoU with IFES in New Delhi to enhance democratic institutions and electoral processes. According to the official press release, the MoU was intended to promote knowledge exchange, joint training programs, research, and capacity-building initiatives through ECI’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). The MoU was signed by SY Quraishi, the then Chief Election Commissioner of India, and William Sweeney, President and CEO of IFES.
Given that IFES is significantly funded by USAID through CEPPS, the other sources of its funding warrant scrutiny. According to IFES’s “Our Partners & Donors” page, the Election Commission of India is listed as a funder alongside major public entities such as USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and Australian Aid.
However, the real issue lies in IFES’s private backers, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Open Society Foundations (OSF). Notably, OSF, owned by George Soros, has been widely accused of funding anti-India activities. The fact that an organization receiving funding from Soros has a formal agreement with the Election Commission of India raises serious concerns about the extent of foreign influence on India’s electoral processes. This calls for a deeper examination of IFES’s true role and objectives in India and the nature of its involvement in the country's elections under the guise of collaboration.
The partnership between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and IFES didn’t end with the 2012 MoU; it continued through IIIDEM (India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management) and International IDEA, a global intergovernmental organization. IIIDEM, established by the ECI in 2011, coincided with the time when SY Quraishi signed the MoU with IFES. It’s crucial to note that the ECI is an autonomous body, meaning that while the Government of India isn't directly working with IFES, it is engaging with IIIDEM.
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