March 27, 2007

IFES President Richard Soudriette greets a full house of election specialists attending the opening ceremony of the fourth GEO Conference in Washington.

The fourth Global Electoral Organization Conference (GEO) opened March 27 in Washington, bringing together more than 200 of the world’s top election officials and democracy advocates. IFES President Richard Soudriette began the conference, calling it a “celebration of transparency in the election process.”

IFES, an international democracy-building organization, hosted the conference, which was centered on the theme, “Every Vote Counts.” This year’s GEO conference was held in the United States for the first time. Canada hosted the first edition of the GEO conference in Ottawa in 1999 as a way to bring together newly formed regional electoral associations and international elections experts. Subsequent conferences were held in Mexico City in 2003 and Siófok, Hungary, in 2005.

Paula J. Dobriansky, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, gave the keynote address at this year’s opening ceremony. Dobriansky told the delegates from six continents that their work and partnerships were “instrumental in making democracy work” around the world.

Dobriansky discussed the various democracy initiatives that the United States has supported in recent years, including successful elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as initiatives to register more women to vote and to support the United Nations Democracy Fund.

“We are committed to standing with those who yet do not have a voice in the direction of their own country and assisting those people in nations where democracy is not yet firmly rooted,” she said.

In his speech, IFES Board Chairman William J. Hybl shared a letter from U.S. President George W. Bush. In the letter, Bush honored IFES for its 20 years of promoting democracy around the world and told the GEO delegates that, “Your hard work and commitment are helping to create lasting democratic institutions and laying the foundation of peace and democracy for future generations.”

Paula J. Dobriansky, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, paid tribute to the GEO delegates for ensuring voting rights around the world.

Pressing Issues

During the three-day event, the delegates examined the most pressing issues in election administration, including resolving election disputes and tracking money during political campaigns. Plenary sessions on the conference’s first day focused on how to arrest declining voter turnout in established democracies and the rising role of technology in elections.

Voter participation in established democracies has waned in the last decade, raising concerns among governments, political parties and democracy advocates. The decline in voter turnout comes as electoral democracy and citizen activism grows.

A voter’s age is the key determinant as to whether he/she is likely to vote. Young people are the least likely to cast ballots, with voter participation rising during middle age and then declining when a voter reaches retirement age. People with higher incomes and education also tend to vote more often. Men and women tend to vote at roughly the same levels.

Pippa Norris of the United Nations Development Programme discussed whether changing election laws and policy could boost turnout numbers. She examined a number of related issues, including switching electoral systems, compulsory voting and making national elections less frequent.

Norris concluded that most of these changes would not produce a dramatic effect. However, there is often some growth in turnout when a country switches from a majoritarian to a proportional system and when a country requires citizens to vote.

Andrew Ellis of International IDEA said that it was important to think about the long-term impact of these policies, since they would be aimed at youth and would take decades to put in place.

“We had better get it right because it takes an awful long time to correct mistakes,” he said.

Paul DeGregorio, former chairman of the United States Election Assistance Commission, addressed the controversy over electronic voting in his country. DeGregorio said that while opponents charge that the machines are unreliable and prone to tampering, evidence shows that to be untrue. Instead, he said the vast majority of problems with electronic voting involve human error, not machine error.

“The machine element is almost entirely dependent on the human element for the equation to work,” he said. DeGregorio added that the EAC is responding by giving state and local election administrators more support in their efforts to train poll workers.

DeGregorio also mentioned some of the benefits that have come with the introduction of electronic voting in the United States. Now more voters with disabilities are able to cast their ballots independently and privately. The technology also helps election workers who live in areas where they are required by law to provide voter instructions and ballots in multiple languages.

American Democracy Experience

In addition to expert panels, GEO showcased various aspects of the American experience in building democracy through cultural tours, the National Archives and U.S. Department of State. Other activities at the conference included a vendor exhibition.

The organizations co-hosting the GEO conference include the Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO), U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Elections Canada (EC), U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT), IFES (formerly the International Foundation for Election Systems), Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico (IFE), Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA), Center for Electoral Promotion and Assistance (IIDH-CAPEL), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD).