Elections and Electoral Processes to Watch in 2012

January 30, 2012

Five elections that will play a significant role in shaping the health and trajectory of democracy in the coming year

Elections, Political Parties, Election Procedures

IFES Partners with Mexican Electoral Commission on International Training on Political Campaign Finance

October 25, 2011

To help election officials in the Latin American and Caribbean regions share their experiences and knowledge in campaign finance, IFES partnered with the Mexican Electoral Federal Institute (IFE) on a first-of-its-kind workshop for Latin American election management bodies.

Political Finance, Financial Disclosure, Elections

IFES President and CEO On Technology in Elections

August 22, 2010

In August, the Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE), the Mexican elections commission, hosted a four-day conference to explore key electoral topics, including challenges in the administration and organization of elections; political and media rights in elections; and access to electoral justice. The conference brought together election experts, practitioners and academics from all over the world as well as government officials. The event took place in Morelia, Mexico.

Voting Technology, Election Management, Democracy Assistance, Civil Society, Elections

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