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Report/Paper
Report of an Electoral Assessment and Planning Mission to Liberia: April 4-25, 2004
With the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Accra in August 2003, Liberians committed themselves to political, versus military, competition for the control of Liberia’s reconstruction. This commitment places added importance on the electoral process as the means through which the political competition will be carried out. The signatories to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement agreed to reform Liberia’s electoral system prior to the conduct of the 2005 elections. A major challenge, however, is how this electoral system can serve as a framework for political competition beyond 2005. In April 2004, IFES fielded a technical planning mission to examine the electoral environment and suggest a strategy for international support for the electoral process. Among the key findings were: 1. Liberians must be involved in all aspects of the process for the CPA-mandated October 2005 elections to leverage the maximum opportunity to bring the nation to a state of peaceful transition; 2. The electoral framework – detailing the legal provisions, the type of electoral system, the nature of the elections to be held, and other aspects of the electoral process – must be agreed upon no later than October 2004 to allow sufficient time for election preparations. Such a framework should be endorsed by Liberia’s stakeholders; 3. Timely, coordinated and robust international assistance at all stages and levels of the electoral process is necessary to create an environment for a successful outcome and to ensure that the best practices of transitional political processes are put into place; and 4. The international community will have to cover the majority of the cost of the elections, as well as provide considerable assistance to the resulting elected and appointed institutions responsible for Liberia’s reconstruction. This report contains recommendations for both the National Elections Commission (NEC) and its partners in the international community. Some of the key recommendations include: • To ensure that Liberian stakeholders are supportive of the electoral framework, that it meets Liberia’s needs and that it conforms to international standards, the process that leads to the establishment of the electoral framework must be perceived as inclusive and legitimate, while drawing on international best practices and principles. As such, it is recommended that fora be provided for NEC and Liberian political and civic actors to consider the various major issues. The international community should support the electoral reform process and provide technical assistance to facilitate the drafting of the resultant electoral framework. • International assistance will need to be provided to build the capacity of the National Elections Commission to organize and conduct the elections and to ensure the credibility of the electoral process. • The international community and the National Transitional Government of Liberia will need to provide timely and complete support to the elections budget. Any delays in the provision of financing and material will negatively impact the elections timeline. Once the electoral framework is finalized, the full costs for the elections will be known. However, priority at this point should be given to financing the NEC’s current personnel and operational costs, including the re-establishment of its presence in the counties, and voter education. • International assistance should support: o The administration of the elections: To support the conduct of a credible and efficient process through the provision of: i. A Chief Electoral Advisor and/or international members on the National Elections Commission to support the development of policy and procedures and the overall management of the electoral process; ii. Technical advisors to assist NEC headquarters and county offices in implementing the electoral framework; iii. Financial, material and logistical support. o The resolution of electoral disputes during all phases of the electoral process: To enable the timely arbitration and resolution of electoral disputes through the establishment of an Election Dispute Tribunal; and o Electoral participation: To promote a level political playing field and informed participation in the electoral process by Liberia’s citizens. International assistance should be well-timed and initiatives effectively coordinated to avoid duplication of effort and to maximize impact.
April 03, 2004
Election Material
Resolution
Comprehensive Peace Agreement Between the Government of Liberia and LURD and MODEL
Comprehensive Peace Agreement Between the Government of Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconcilation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) and Political Parties
Publication
Report/Paper
Seminar on the Independence of Electoral Justice in Panama: Final Report
This report summarizes IFES’ findings from the (IFES initiated) Seminar on the Independence of Electoral Justice in Panama from December 2001. The purpose of the seminar was to share information on electoral justice and recommend improvements to the electoral justice process.
March 19, 2001
Publication
Report/Paper
Civil Society Participation in Panama: Fundacion Para El Desarrollo de la Libertad Ciudadana, Final Report
October 31, 1999
Publication
Report/Paper
Panama: Elecciones Generales: Informe Final de Observacion Electoral
May 31, 1999
Publication
Report/Paper
Panama: General Elections, IFES Election Observation Final Report
This report is issued as a record of the observations made by the IFES mission from the 1999 Panamanian elections. It is also a presentation of a series of technical suggestions for the consideration of the Panamanian government in the organization and facilitation of future elections.
May 31, 1999
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Tribunal Electoral
“Electoral Tribunal” is an informative guide, available in Spanish, issued in 1999 by the Electoral Tribunal of Panama in lead up to the May 2, 1999 Panamanian General Elections. The guide consists of different forms provided for the electoral observers where they can include information and/or observation about the Election Day that would allow for a technical study of all comments from the observers and would facilitate the elaboration of the statement regarding the process of voting. Additionally, the document contains a statement regarding the cancellation of the use of electronic voting in the May 2, 1999 elections. Lastly, an evaluation of the voting sections and their flaws are provided in the guide.
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Rules and Regulations for the May 2 Elections
Rules and Regulations for the May 2 Elections
Election Material
Ballot
Panama Sample Presidential Ballot 1999
Sample Presidential ballot for elections held in Panama on 2 May 1999. Voters were allowed to vote for one candidate only in the election. The main candidates in the election were Mireya MOSCOSO, Martin TORRIJOS, and Alberto VALLARINO.
Election Material
Ballot
Panama Alcalde Ballot 1999 #2
Sample Mayoral ballot distributed in advance of Mayoral elections in Panama on 2 May 1999.