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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.
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
Election Material
Ballot
Cyprus Ballot 1993 #2
Ballot used for the first round of election for the President of Cyprus on 7 September 1993.
Election Material
Ballot
Cyprus Presidential Ballot 1993 Round 1
Ballot used for the first round of the Cypriot Presidential Election held on 7 February 1993. A second round was held on 14 February 1993.
Election Material
Ballot
Cyprus Parliamentary Ballot 1991 #1
Ballot used for Parliamentary elections held in Cyprus on 19 May 1991. This ballot was used in the Famagusta constituency.
Election Material
Ballot
Saint Lucia General Election Ballot 1987
Sample ballot for the 6 April 1987 general election in Saint Lucia. The main parties in the election were the United Workers Party, the Saint Lucia Labour Party, and the Progressive Labour Party.
Election Material
Ballot
Saint Lucia Parliamentary Ballot 1979
Envelopes used for the transport of ballots and electoral materials for the 2 July 1979 general election in St. Lucia. The main parties in the election were the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party.
Election Material
Ballot
Saint Lucia Parliamentary Ballot 1979
Sample ballot paper used for the 2 July 1979 general election in Saint Lucia. The main parties in the election were the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party.
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Saint Lucia The House of Assembly ( Elections) Act No. 8 of 1979
Saint Lucia The House of Assembly ( Elections) Act No. 8 of 1979