Step by Step: Preventing Fraud in Elections
May 17, 2012
Poll workers and election observers can take a number of simple yet powerful steps to protect the integrity of the vote and promote trust in the electoral process.
Election Management,
Rule of Law
Media Centers: Serving Democracy Through the Press
May 03, 2012
As the global leader in democracy promotion, IFES has helped election management bodies (EMBs) around the world set up media centers to facilitate the flow of information and enhance transparency in the electoral process. A media center allows EMBs, the authoritative sources of election news, to distribute real-time information to local and foreign journalists, including updates on the progress of voting and preliminary announcements of election results. For elections, independent media serve to underscore key issues, shed light on candidates and political parties, provide voter education and keep the population updated on electoral developments.
Civil Society
Promoting Safe Elections for All
April 18, 2012
Ensuring that all citizens feel safe in participating or competing in the electoral process is one of the greatest challenges in supporting an election process that is inclusive and accessible. Promoting election security involves all actors, from the election management bodies to the security sector to citizens who take a stand against violence. This gallery of images illustrates the roles these groups play in mitigating violence so that credible elections can take place.
Electoral Violence
Burma's Landmark Vote
April 03, 2012
Burma held historic by-elections on April 1, to fill 45 vacant parliamentary seats. According to news reports, the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, won at least 40 of the 45 contested seats.
Speaking to reporters on Election Day, Suu Kyi said she hoped the polls marked the start of a new era in Burma and were a hopeful sign for democracy and reconciliation. As the country prepares for general elections at the end of 2015, she has vowed to use her voice to push for further reforms.
The White House described the election as “an important step in Burma’s democratic transformation” and said in a statement that it hopes it is “an indication that the Government of Burma intends to continue along the path of greater openness, transparency, and reform.”
Elections
2012 IFES Photography Contest
March 06, 2012
IFES held its fourth-annual Photography Contest between January 5 and February 16, 2012. The contest seeks images that illustrate the ways individuals around the world demonstrate a sense of civic responsibility and call to action. This year's contest included more than 450 eligible entries in two categories, one open to the public and the other open to current and former IFES employees. This gallery features the images chosen as winners and finalists in each category.
Women Count: A Global Spotlight
March 06, 2012
At the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), gender equality is seen as a crucial element of democracy, since democracy cannot exist if half the population does not have an equal say in a country's government and affairs. To mark International Women's Day 2012 and emphasize the importance of promoting equal rights for women, IFES presents a selection of outstanding photographs online and on display at IFES' Washington, D.C., headquarters that highlight barriers and advances in women’s political participation around the world.
Gender Issues
AGENDA: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers
February 23, 2012
On February 1 and 2, over 100 representatives from disabled persons' organizations, civil society, election management bodies and government in Southeast Asia, as well as online viewers from around the world, gathered for the first-ever conference in Southeast Asia to promote the equal and full participation of persons with disabilities in democratic processes. The event was hosted by the ASEAN General Election Network for Disability Access (AGENDA), a network of Southeast Asian organizations focused on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities that IFES helped create.
People with Disabilities
2011: A Year of Momentous Elections
December 21, 2011
2011 was a year of historic elections. From the referendum that brought independence to South Sudan, to the first free and fair elections in Tunisia and the first legislative election in 10 years in Cote d’Ivoire, the year was full of important polls and milestones for democracy. This gallery presents images of some of the elections around the world in which IFES had the privilege to be involved.
Elections,
Democracy Assistance
Another Step Forward: Parliamentary Elections in Côte d'Ivoire
December 12, 2011
Côte d'Ivoire held its first legislative elections in more than a decade on December 11. These elections will usher in the first democratically elected parliament since 2005, when the mandate of the parliament elected in 2000 expired. The elections are considered to be another step toward reconciliation for the West African nation.
Elections,
Post-conflict