Electoral Law
Clear legal frameworks are essential for the protection of fundamental suffrage rights, the design and implementation of effective electoral systems, and the efficient and transparent management of elections. Drawing on international law, best practices and comparative experience, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) works globally with local partners in the design and reform of electoral systems and the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern their implementation – ultimately promoting the effectiveness and credibility of democratic institutions and processes.
As a learning organization, IFES has an internal Knowledge Management Initiative Working Group on Electoral Integrity, Law and Anti-Corruption to help grow the research, tools and technical expertise we offer our partners worldwide.
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Vice President, Global Strategy and Technical Leadership
Director, Center for Applied Research and Learning
Senior Global Advisor, Legal
Related Content
12 Sep 2012 | Multimedia
Stakeholders gather to discuss electoral, management and logistical issues from recent election.
9 Aug 2012 | Publication
Egyptian electoral systems underwent several significant changes in the lead-up to the 2011-2012 parliamentary and presidential elections.
30 May 2012 | Multimedia
Electoral fraud is arguably the most tangible, obvious threat to the integrity of an election, but the concept is not always well-articulated. IFES hosted a conversation about how electoral fraud is...
12 May 2012 | Multimedia
On May 10, 2010 Filipinos went to the polls to cast ballots for president, vice-president, senators, congressmen, governors, mayors and other key offices in their national and local election. For...
9 May 2012 | Publication
In the third white paper in an ongoing series on electoral fraud, IFES presents a set of practical definitions that will help election managers, experts and observers to accurately identify and...
9 Mar 2012 | Multimedia
As Zimbabwe’s Unity Government marks its third anniversary, Staffan Darnolf, IFES Chief of Party in Zimbabwe, tells us where the government stands on fulfilling the agreement that brought it into...
6 Mar 2012 | Publication
Now that Yemen's former Vice President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Al-Hadi has been officially voted in as president of the republic, what are the next steps in Yemen's transition?
27 Feb 2012 | Publication
The difficulties the ISIE and other stakeholders experienced in enforcing campaign finance regulations were aggravated by both a lack of expertise and the shortcomings of the Decree law No 35 on...
14 Feb 2012 | Election Material
In December 2011, Ukraine adopted a new parliamentary electoral law. Among other things, the law introduced a new electoral system, under which half of the country’s deputies would be elected in...
14 Feb 2012 | Election Material
In December 2011, Ukraine adopted a new parliamentary electoral law. Among other things, the law introduced a new electoral system, under which half of the country’s deputies would be elected in...
14 Feb 2012 | Election Material
In December 2011, Ukraine adopted a new parliamentary electoral law. Among other things, the law introduced a new electoral system, under which half of the country’s deputies would be elected in...
1 Nov 2011 | Publication
Analysis of Egypt’s 2011 Parliamentary Electoral System provides insight into the election laws regulating parliamentary elections in Egypt.
24 Oct 2011 | Multimedia
Tunisia held the country’s first free and fair election on 23 October. Millions of Tunisians went to the polls to cast their ballots for the National Constituent Assembly, which will have one year...
19 Oct 2011 | Publication
IFES has released an updated and expanded list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the 23 October election for a National Constituent Assembly, the body that will be charged with writing a...
26 Sep 2011 | Publication
Upon conclusion of the working group meetings this spring, the Ministry of Justice put forward a draft parliamentary election law. In June of this year, the Ministry formally requested that IFES...
19 Sep 2011 | Publication
On October 30, 2011, Kyrgyzstan will hold its first presidential election since the momentous constitutional referendum in June 2010 that established the first parliamentary system in Central Asia...
12 Sep 2011 | News and Updates
Ukrainians have a more pessimistic view of their country’s future now than a year ago, with more than half saying they believe Ukraine is on a path toward instability, according to a survey...
22 Aug 2011 | Election Material
In May 2011, the Ukrainian government presented draft parliamentary election law.
17 Aug 2011 | Publication
As Egypt prepares for parliamentary elections under newly amended electoral laws, it is important to understand the ongoing changes to the electoral framework and the impact these changes will have...
27 Jul 2011 | Publication
The purpose of this report is to give a brief analysis of the Law on Political Financing which was published in the “Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia” on 14 June 2011. In addition,...
1 Jul 2011 | Publication
This brief paper deals with three separate but closely related issues – how to understand state/administrative resources and the way they can be abused; how to regulate the (ab)use of state...
7 Jun 2011 | Publication
IFES’ latest briefing paper on Yemen offers a snapshot of where things are now, potential areas of improvement in the electoral framework and steps to consider if President Saleh steps down.
26 May 2011 | Multimedia
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...
16 May 2011 | Publication
While electoral complaints adjudication does not often garner as much attention as the casting of ballots, it is a crucial part of the elections process.
27 Apr 2011 | News and Updates
IFES has identified seven principles that are crucial components to any complaints adjudication system. These standards, which stem from the widely recognized fundamental right to participate in...
26 Apr 2011 | Publication
Since protesters began to fill Cairo’s Tahrir Square in late January demanding sweeping political changes and the start of a truly democratic era, Egypt has seen a series of momentous...
9 Mar 2011 | Publication
The purpose of this series of papers is to offer an assessment of electoral fraud from an international comparative perspective with the aim of providing a better understanding of the current nature...
1 Mar 2011 | Publication
The term ‘electoral system’ is used to describe the structure by which votes cast in an election result in legislative seats (or executive offices) won by political parties and candidates. The...
1 Mar 2011 | Publication
The role of money in politics has a profound effect upon the legitimacy of elections and the quality of democracy, governance and development. All countries, including advanced democracies,...
25 Feb 2011 | Publication
On Tuesday, 8 February 2011, the Palestinian Authority issued a renewed call for local elections to be held on 9 July 2011. The call follows last June’s Cabinet decision to cancel elections and...
24 Feb 2011 | Publication
As Tunisians focus much of their attention on events unfurling across the region, there remains political commitment and activity towards ensuring progress with democratic transition through...
14 Feb 2011 | Publication
Throughout the past two decades, IFES has been dedicated to providing technical elections assistance throughout the world. During this time, it has become clear that an effective resolution of...
14 Feb 2011 | Publication
This paper deals with the role of money in politics, and in particular with certain efforts by countries around the world to regulate this role. In the current world (and probably since we first...
14 Feb 2011 | Publication
The purpose of this series of papers is to offer an assessment of electoral fraud from an international comparative perspective with the aim of providing a better understanding of the current nature...
8 Feb 2011 | Publication
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...
22 Dec 2010 | Multimedia
On December 13, 2010, the Palestinian High Court issued its final verdict on the lawsuits challenging the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) of the Palestinian Authority decision to cancel the local...
16 Dec 2010 | Publication
On December 13, 2010, the Palestinian High Court issued its final verdict on the lawsuits challenging the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) of the Palestinian Authority decision to cancel the local...
15 Dec 2010 | Publication
As the topic of electoral fraud has gained prominence in the media and the international discourse, IFES is releasing a series of three white papers introducing a groundbreaking framework for...
24 Nov 2010 | Publication
In this paper, Dr Magnus Ohman analyzes the campaign finance oversight system put in place by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for the 2009 Presidential elections. Specifically, the paper...
17 Nov 2010 | Multimedia
On June 27, 2010 Kyrgyzstan adopted a new constitution via nationwide referendum. Introducing a new or revised governing charter was nothing new for the Central Asian republic—they have seen many...
29 Oct 2010 | News and Updates
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is hosting a two-day visitor’s program focusing on the U.S. elections. The program will bring together over 100 diplomats,...
28 Oct 2010 | Publication
The subject of this research is quite a topical one. The Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters adopted by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in October 2002 calls for the...
13 Oct 2010 | Survey
This report details the findings from the latest IFES survey in Ukraine. This is the 18th public opinion poll conducted in Ukraine by IFES, and some of the findings from earlier surveys will be...
10 Oct 2010 | Multimedia
In this podcast, Lisa Kammerud, IFES research officer specializing in election violence monitoring, tells us what these developments mean for Kenya and the prosecution of electoral violence in...
8 Oct 2010 | Publication
This statement is offered by two international pre-election delegations organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), to...
5 Oct 2010 | Multimedia
On September 26, 2010, IFES and the Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS) hosted an Electoral Symposium to spread electoral awareness before the upcoming People’s Assembly...
30 Sep 2010 | Survey
In August 2010, IFES contracted Polling Center of Jakarta to conduct a nationwide public opinion survey with a sample size of 2,500. Interviews were conducted in all 33 provinces and the survey is...
27 Sep 2010 | Multimedia
This podcast, the third in a series of three, features Alan Wall, IFES chief of party in Nepal. Mr. Wall shares insight into what the international community can do to deter fraud.
27 Sep 2010 | Multimedia
Staffan Darnolf, IFES senior election advisor, talks to us about the consuming effect of election fraud and the steps that can be taken to prevent it.
26 Sep 2010 | Multimedia
In this podcast, the first in a series of three podcasts on election fraud, Rafael Lopez-Pintor, tells us what election fraud is and how it can be prosecuted in legal courts.
23 Sep 2010 | News and Updates
After decades of dictatorship and military rule, Guinea is on the verge of becoming a true democracy. The last remaining hurdles on its path to legitimate elections are corrections that must be...