IFES President & CEO Speaks at the Mexican Senate

January 27, 2010

Bill Sweeney, IFES president and CEO, participated in a conference on political reform analysis (Seminario de Análisis sobre Reforma Política) organized by the Mexican Senate’s Instituto Belisario Dominguez;  the institute of legislative research within the Universidad Autónoma de México, the country’s largest public university; Centro de Estudios para un Proyecto Nacional Alternativo, S.C.; and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Mexico.

Governance

Mexico and the Philippines: Electoral Commissions Sharing Knowledge

October 21, 2009

In May 2010, the Philippines will hold concurrent presidential, national and local elections. These elections present a considerable challenge for the Electoral Commission of the Philippines (COMELEC) as they mark the shift towards an automated election system; in the past, elections were largely a manual process.

Elections, Election Management, Election Procedures, Electoral Systems, Election Law

Testing the Happiness Hypothesis in Puerto Rico

September 23, 2009

Puerto Ricans and Mexicans are known around the world as some of the happiest people on earth. In most places where I have traveled, foreigners greet me with enthusiasm when they learn I am Mexican. The ensuing conversation is usually one that lets me know they associate my country with sunshine and having a good time. It turns out Puerto Ricans have a similar experience.

Public Opinion, Elections, Civil Society, Election Management

IFES Observes International Day of Democracy

September 15, 2009

In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe September 15th as the International Day of Democracy. The preamble of the resolution affirmed that: "while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region...democracy is a universal value based on the freely-expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life."

Gender Issues, Elections, Public Opinion, Democracy Assistance, Civil Society

IFES Presents Report to Mexico's Election Commission

July 20, 2009

In February 2009, IFES began to work on a study of the 2007/2008 electoral reforms implemented in Mexico from an international perspective. In mid-June, IFES presented an advance report of Implementation of the Electoral Reform 2007/2008 from an International Comparative Perspective to Mexico's main political party leaders, national and international media, and the electoral management body: the Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE).

Governance, Electoral Systems

IFES' Americas Division Moves to Mexico City

April 16, 2009

IFES' Americas division is moving its offices to Mexico City. This will be the first time that an IFES regional direction is based outside the Washington, DC headquarters.  This move reflects IFES' commitment to revitalizing its work in Latin America. Martin Landi, a native of Argentina, is the new regional director for the Americas and will be heading the Mexico City center.

Governance

Mentors and Mariachi: Field Assignment in Mexico

April 16, 2009

My first IFES field assignment was in Mexico City, the city of my birth. IFES was commissioned by the Mexican electoral institute (Instituto Federal Electoral—IFE) to assess the controversial election law reforms introduced following the incendiary 2006 presidential election.

Election Law, Legal Framework, Electoral Systems, Elections

IFES, Mexican Tribunal Pledge Cooperation

March 21, 2008

IFES and Mexico’s Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary are vowing to increase cooperation and strengthen their ties in order to jointly expand the reach of democracy.

Democracy Assistance, Political Finance, Election Disputes, Elections

Mexico Votes 2006 Q&A with IFES' James Vermillion

July 24, 2006

James Vermillion, IFES’ executive vice president, was in Mexico to observe the election with IFE, Mexico’s independent elections commission. IFES.org spoke with Vermillion about key election issues and the significance of the vote for Latin America and the United States.

Elections

Special Report: 2006 Mexican Elections

July 13, 2006

Special Report on the 2006 Mexico Election

Elections