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News & Updates
Feature
Young Bougainvilleans with Disabilities Empowered to Engage in Referendum Process
In August, IFES implemented its Engaging a New Generation for Accessible Governance and Elections (ENGAGE) political leadership curriculum with young persons with disabilities in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
News & Updates
Feature
Elections on Trial Project: Inaugural Meeting of the Europe and Eurasia Electoral Jurisprudence Working Group
IFES is working to establish peer networks in Europe and Eurasia and Africa, supported by the United States Agency for International Development. Regional knowledge exchange allows judges and election commissioners to discuss best practices and share comparative examples of how other countries deal with specific categories of complaints and disputes.
News & Updates
Feature
2014 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award Recipient
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) honored Venezuelan opposition leader and Congresswoman Maria Corina Machado with its 2014 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award.
Publication
Report/Paper
Lithuania: Money and Politics Case Study
Lithuania has rapidly developed both politically and economically since emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991. While the country has built a functioning parliamentary system of government, has become a member of NATO, and is on the verge of joining the European Union, it still faces many problems associated with the many consolidating democracies around the world. As in all democracies, populations need to trust that those they elect will represent their interests. Problems such as corruption, weaknesses in laws concerning the political financing, and unaccounted for political income and expenditures threaten the credibility of the process and hinder the speed at which democracy is consolidated. Additionally, Lithuania lacks the high level of vibrant debate about the issue of political financing among scholars, journalists and civil society bodies required to promote meaningful reform. Recognizing this, Lithuania has developed an independent Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and adopted laws requiring detailed and public disclosure of political finance accounts. Prior to conducting Money and Politics programming in Lithuania, the CEC had made a demonstrable interest in making information public. While scanning summary report of accounts and placing them on the internet, the user could not search, not easily compare and analyze the information. Interested parties were required to make an appointment to view more detailed, paper-based information. Further, while the Tax Authorities are required to audit final political party reports, enforcement is widely considered to be weak. Few, if any, cases of political finance violations have been forwarded and investigated, not to mention prosecuted. By addressing the difficult issues surrounding political finance with the support of IFES in 2002 and 2003, Lithuania is emerging as a model for other consolidating democracy to follow. Significant areas remain to be addressed. While Lithuania has taken concrete steps to reform political finance legislation, open political finance information to public scrutiny and oversight, and encourage debate, further efforts are required to actively enforce laws and regulations and raise the level of debate among the various governmental, legislative, and civil society groups. By addressing these areas, Lithuania has the potential for being an example of best practices while making local expertise and resources to other countries undergoing similar reforms.
December 31, 2002
Publication
Report/Paper
Venezuela Mision De Observacion: Elecciones Legislativas y de Gobernadores (Noviembre 8, 1998)
November 30, 1998
Publication
Report/Paper
Conferencia: El Financiamiento de las Campanas Electorales Memoria, Caracas, Venezuela - 15 y 16 de Junio de 1998
June 30, 1998
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Guia de Elector
“Voter’s Guide” is a voter’s handbook, available in Spanish, issued in 1998 by the National Electoral Council of Venezuela. The handbook is meant to provide voters with basic information on voter’s registration as well as the responsibilities and rights of citizens elected to exercise electoral functions.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Ciclo de Conferencias Hacer Ciudadania
“Lecture Cycle: Making Citizenship” is a schedule agenda, available in Spanish, issued in 1998 by the CIVITAS group in Venezuela. The document provides some basic information on the conferences to take place in Caracas, Venezuela between June-July 1998, such as program and schedule of the conferences.