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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
Ruling of the Palestinian High Court on Cancelling Elections in the Territories
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 elections scheduled for July 17, 2010. The Court ruled that once the cabinet calls for elections, it does not have authority to cancel them.
Publication
Report/Paper
Palestinian Local Elections 2010
Under the leadership of President Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Authority’s Cabinet called the 2004 local elections, managed under the authority of the Ministry of Local Government in three stages throughout 2005. However, because of operational and political challenges, local elections were held in four stages on six different dates and were never finalized; elections in over 100 councils were postponed indefinitely. In February 2010, the Cabinet called for local elections in the West Bank and Gaza for 17 July 2010.
June 09, 2010
Publication
Report/Paper
Challenges to the 2010 Palestinian Elections
Media reports as well as statements by President Abbas, Fatah and Hamas leaders indicate that Palestinian factions have agreed to hold elections in January 2010, even if agreements on other issues have not yet been reached.
June 29, 2009
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
Mision de Observacion de las Elecciones de Guinea Ecuatorial, Marzo de 1996
February 29, 1996
Publication
Report/Paper
Election Awareness Workshops for Palestinian Women, June 1994, West Bank & Gaza, Final Report
IFES convened a series of nine election awareness workshops in the West Bank and Gaza from June 16 to June 24, 1994. The workshops gathered Palestinian women political and community activists in 8 different localities. The workshops aimed at familiarizing participants with electoral issues to prepare women to mobilize for the Palestinian Council elections. This report summarizes IFES' findings from these workshops.
August 31, 1994
Publication
Report/Paper
Pre-Election Assessment West Bank & Gaza
This pre-election assessment summarizes IFES findings from the West Bank and Gaza where IFES conducted a survey on the prospects and plans for Palestinian elections to be held under the framework of the September 13 Declaration of Principles. The assessment concludes that steps must be taken in order to hold elections that will be seen as legitimate in the eyes of Palestinians themselves and the outside world.
May 09, 1994