Americas
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has been developing and implementing programs in the Americas region since its foundation, in 1987. Working together with government officials, electoral management bodies, and civil society organizations, our projects have achieved significant success in promoting transparency and accountability in electoral processes, as well as in increasing civic engagement and the inclusion of marginalized groups in political life. Through activities that range from the assessment of electoral operations procedures and technical assistance with tabulation of results to the organization of voter education campaigns, IFES is supporting sustainable improvements to democratic institutions throughout the Americas. It is also an important part of IFES’ mission in the region to support greater horizontal cooperation and peer-to-peer exchange among democratic institutions.
To learn more about our current projects in the region, please visit our country pages.
Current Field Offices
Current Activities
Resources
Related Experts See All IFES Experts
Regional Director, Americas
Related Content
29 Nov 2008 | Publication
Description: Does African dependence on foreign aid undermine the evolution of representative institutions? Using cross-national data and public opinion data, Olufunmbi M. Elemo, a PhD candidate in...
25 Nov 2008 | Multimedia
Representing more than 40 countries top election officials explore key election issues and democracy-development challenges.
3 Nov 2008 | News and Updates
Jamie Dettmer explains why Americans should celebrate their democracy - The Kojo Nnamdi Show
26 Sep 2008 | News and Updates
Alaska is not alone in having to deal with unscrupulous politicians. Feidt speaks with Dr. Marcin Walecki of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems in Washington, DC: he trains countries...
21 Apr 2008 | News and Updates
April 20, 2008, saw the people of Paraguay hold elections to select their new President, Vice-President, Senators, Deputies, Representatives for PARLASUR, Governors and Departmental Councils.
21 Apr 2008 | News and Updates
19 April 2008 – Hours from opening of the polls on April 20, the date on which Paraguayan voters will elect their highest national and departmental authorities,
24 Mar 2008 | News and Updates
International election observers, led by IFES, will announce results of their pre-electoral assessment at a press conference in Asunción tomorrow.
26 Feb 2008 | News and Updates
A team of five international election experts led by IFES arrived in Paraguay this week to begin observation activities for the April 20 presidential and parliamentary elections. The assessment...
11 Jan 2008 | Publication
The Resolution of Election Disputes, 2nd Edition is the most up-to-date centralized information source for understanding, responding to, and preventing election disputes and irregularities in the U...
12 Oct 2007 | Multimedia
IFES celebrated its 20th anniversary by honoring two 'champions of democracy.'
29 Jun 2007 | Publication
Citizens in many countries are upset because they believe the current financing of politics (which involves corruption and under-the-table deals) is violating the basic democratic values of equal...
5 Jun 2007 | Multimedia
Richard Soudriette steps down as president of IFES in June after 19 years. Here is a look back at some memorable moments.
31 May 2007 | Publication
IFES en colaboración con el Consejo Supremo Electoral de Nicaragua y la Dirección del Registro Civil Nacional desarrollo un nuevo manual oficial para los registradores civiles, el Manual del...
13 Apr 2007 | Multimedia
Photos from the vendor hall at the 2007 Global Electoral Organisations Conference
12 Apr 2007 | Multimedia
Photos from the special events at the 2007 Global Electoral Organisations Conference
7 Mar 2007 | News and Updates
A new publication from IFES documents activities and lessons learned from the first-ever project that aimed to increase voting by Nicaraguans with disabilities and thereby make the country’s...
4 Mar 2007 | Publication
This project report describes the first-ever experience in Nicaragua in support of voting for persons with a disability. It reflects the conclusions arrived at by means of a project evaluation...
31 Jan 2007 | Publication
The report compiles and compares the different ways that Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panamá have reformed their civil registries and processes for collecting voter information. The original...
31 Dec 2006 | Election Material
“50 Ans au Coeur de la Democratie” is a leaflet from 2007, available in French, which celebrates the fact that the Director General of Elections in Quebec has been at the heart of the electoral...
11 Oct 2006 | News and Updates
African descendants in Ecuador will observe elections in their communities for the first time during the presidential and legislative polls on October 15
31 Jul 2006 | Election Material
This “Voter’s Guide” was published for residents of St. Louis City and County, Missouri in lead up to the August 8, 2006 primary election. The piece provides key dates and times, such as the day...
31 Jul 2006 | Election Material
“Instructions for Election Poll Workers” was released by the St. Louis County Election Board in lead up to the August 8, 2006 primary elections. The piece provides information on how to handle...
29 Jun 2006 | Multimedia
Mexicans living abroad were allowed to vote for the first time in the 2006 election
1 Jun 2006 | Multimedia
Photos from a poll worker training session in the United States
24 Feb 2006 | Multimedia
A photo gallery from IFES' election observation project.
31 Dec 2005 | Election Material
“Guide: Step by Step” is an electoral handbook, available in Spanish, issued in 2006 by the Supreme Electoral Council in Nicaragua in lead up to the November 5, 2006 Nicaraguan General Elections....
5 Nov 2005 | Multimedia
IFES promotes the political participation of Ecuadorian minorities.
31 Jan 2005 | Publication
In Haiti, IFES worked with civil society between 2001 and 2004. The project, funded by USAID, aimed to build coalitions and promote support for justice sector reform and respect for human rights. The...
31 Dec 2004 | Election Material
Youth Service America (YSA) is a resource center that partners with thousand of organizations commited to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people in America...
31 Dec 2004 | Election Material
“Strategic Program of Education” is a civic education program description book, available in Spanish, issued in 2005 by the Federal Electoral Institute in Mexico. The book describes the theory of...
30 Nov 2004 | Election Material
“Making Every Vote Count” is the final report by the Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform which outlines the case for electoral reform in British Columbia, Canada. The document, published in 2004...
31 Mar 2004 | Publication
This State of the Judiciary Report for Honduras was written by Edmundo Orellana, J.D., an eminent Honduran lawyer specializing in judicial reform and author of numerous articles and books on this...
31 Mar 2004 | Publication
This State of the Judiciary Report for Haiti was written by Léon Saint-Louis, J.D., a Haitian human rights lawyer and professor of public and contract law. Léon Saint-Louis has participated as a...
31 Mar 2004 | Publication
Ce Rapport unique, réalise fin 2003, dépeint de manière claire et méthodique la situation de faiblesse et de pauvreté d'un pouvoir judiciaire lui n'est ni indépendant ni responsable vis-à-vis du...
29 Feb 2004 | Election Material
“Instructive Guide of Electoral Verification and Education 2004” is an instructional workbook, available in Spanish, issued in 2004 by the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, in...
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material
“Educational Booklet CD” is the cover of a CD, available in Spanish, issued in 2004 by the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, in lead up to the 2004 Presidential Election in the...
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material
“Guide for Regular Elections” is an election guide booklet, available in Spanish, issued in 2004 by the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, in lead up to the 2004 Presidential...
31 Dec 2003 | Publication
This investigation combines techniques of qualitative and quantitative research. The specific goal of the study is to increase the knowledge of the post electoral opinions and perceptions...
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material
“The Presidential Ballot” is an informative brochure, available in Spanish, issued in 2004 by the Central Electoral Board in lead up to the May 16, 2004 Presidential Election in the Dominican...
31 Dec 2003 | Publication
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material
District of Columbia Primary Or General Elections
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material
“Global Youth Service Day Planning Tool Kit” is a 2004 publication promoting the fourth annual Global Youth Service Day. The booklet includes chapters on how to fund raise and recruit for Global...
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material
“The 2004 Presidential Elections” is a voter guide, available in Spanish, issued in 2004 by the Central Electoral Board in the Dominican Republic, in lead up to the 2004 Presidential Election. The...
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material
This map depicts the type of voting equipment by county in the US. The map was distributed during the lead up to the 2004 presidential and congressional elections.
31 Dec 2003 | Election Material