New Global Declaration for Citizen Observers

May 17, 2012

On April 3, IFES joined the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) at the United Nations to launch the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations.

Election Observation

Armenia’s Parliamentary Election: Another Step on the Path Toward Democracy

May 07, 2012

On Sunday, May 6, Armenia held its first parliamentary election under a new election law since the 2008 presidential poll that saw violent protests. Anthony Bowyer, IFES program manager for the Caucasus and Central Asia, answers questions from southern Armenia.

Elections, Election Law, Election Observation

Nigerians Vote in Multiple National Elections

May 26, 2011

Nigeria held a series of nationwide elections in April 2011, beginning with National Assembly polls on April 9 and a presidential election on April 16. Elections for state governors were held on April 26 in most parts of the country but delayed until April 28 in two states due to violence following the presidential vote. After registering to vote in January and February, Nigerians underwent a voter accreditation process in the morning of each election day before casting their ballots in the afternoon. Despite the considerable security challenges, the polls were considered generally fair and credible by international observers.

Elections, Election Observation

Assessing Electoral Fraud in New Democracies: A New Strategic Approach

March 09, 2011

Recent election events around the world show that fraud is undermining the electoral process in both established democracies and transitional societies.  Elections to the executive office or legislative body have extremely high stakes.

Election Observation, Political Parties, Electoral Systems

IFES Senior Advisor Presents Paper on Effect of International Assistance on Elections

February 25, 2011

Staffan Darnolf, IFES senior advisor, presented a paper on the impact of the international community on elections at the International Political Science Association (IPSA) biannual conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Elections, Election Observation, Electoral Systems, Democracy Assistance

Elections in Tunisia: Key Challenges for Credible and Competitive Elections

February 24, 2011

Tunisia’s ongoing and rapid political change is likely to culminate in coming days on an agreement on the timeframe for presidential and parliamentary elections. Assuming that political will for change remains in place, these elections will take place in a very different political climate to any other elections held in the North Africa region.

Election Disputes, Election Observation, Public Funding, Election Management, Voter Registration

Four IFES Experts Present Papers at IPSA Conference

February 14, 2011

IFES will be presenting four papers on the electoral process at this year’s International Political Science Association (IPSA) biannual conference Whatever Happened to North-South? Held in Sao Paulo, Brazil from February 16-19, 2011, the conference is expected to host hundreds of scholars and practitioners across the field of political science and provide attendants the opportunity to discuss current political issues across the world.

Election Disputes, Election Observation, Electoral Systems, Elections, Political Finance

International Election Support: Helping or Hindering Democratic Elections?

February 14, 2011

Analyzing and explaining why an election is democratic, or not, has fascinated scholars for decades. Methodologies, used to measure the freeness and fairness of the electoral process, are plentiful and elaborate.

Electoral Systems, Elections, Election Observation

IFES Releases Briefing Paper on Key Challenges for Credible and Competitive Elections in Egypt

February 08, 2011

As the situation in Egypt continues to evolve, IFES has released a briefing paper that serves as a guide to understanding the current electoral system and identifies issues that must be addressed immediately in order to have credible and competitive elections in the near future.

Elections, Democracy Assistance, Constitutional Law, Legal Framework, Election Management

IFES Election Monitoring Partner in the Philippines Launches TV Show

February 04, 2011

LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Elections)—the first nationwide network of lawyers, law students, paralegals and other trained volunteers set up by various non-partisan groups engaged in election monitoring work in the Philippines—has launched its own talk show in the Philippines’ Destiny Cable's GNN channel 8.

Elections, Election Observation