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News & Updates
Feature
An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election
On September 23, 2014, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) hosted a conversation between IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney and the former Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India (ECI), S.Y. Quraishi. Sweeney and Quraishi discussed Quraishi’s book An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election, a first-person account of the recent electoral history of India and a must-read for those interested in understanding how the world's largest democracy works. Quraishi was also presented with the IFES’ prestigious Hutar Award, which honors those who express a commitment to improving democratic practices.
During the event, Sweeney marveled at the immense technical undertaking of elections in India, noting that as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of India, Quraishi oversaw elections that involved over 11 million Indian government personnel. Indeed, elections in India generate both wonder and interest globally. Polls have been held at regular intervals in the country since independence, and on an unprecedented scale, surmounting the massive challenges posed by the geography of the land and the diversity of the Indian populace.
During the event, Sweeney marveled at the immense technical undertaking of elections in India, noting that as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of India, Quraishi oversaw elections that involved over 11 million Indian government personnel. Indeed, elections in India generate both wonder and interest globally. Polls have been held at regular intervals in the country since independence, and on an unprecedented scale, surmounting the massive challenges posed by the geography of the land and the diversity of the Indian populace.
News & Updates
Feature
Electoral Administration Better Prepared For A Stronger Democracy
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) organized two workshops in recent weeks on the Building Resources in Democracy, Governance, and Elections (BRIDGE) Program. Sessions specifically focused on access to electoral processes in order to strengthen the professional capacity of Haitian institutions and to ensure an effective transfer of technical skills in the field of election administration.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
IFES Q&A with The Secretary of State for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Haiti
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
IFES Q&A with Former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr. SY Quraishi
As a former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. SY Quraishi has a deep understanding of the intricacies of how the world’s largest democracy works. He also has more than 35 years of experience in civil service. Dr. Quraishi is well known in India and abroad as a development thinker, for his inclusive style of leadership, and for bringing together wide varieties of groups and institutions to achieve the common objectives of development. In this Q&A, Dr. Quraishi discusses challenges the Election Commission of India (ECI) faces in preparing to conduct credible elections and shares lessons learned. India’s five-week general elections started on April 7.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Strengthening Election Coverage and Journalism Standards in Haiti
IFES Chief of Party in Haiti Alessandra Rossi attended the first in a series of workshops for Haitian journalists registered to cover the upcoming elections. IFES is co-hosting the workshops with Haiti’s Transitional College of the Permanent Electoral Council.
News & Updates
Feature
A Rights-Based Approach to Electoral Security
In India, Maoist rebels killed 14 people in attacks in Chhattisgarh state as part of a campaign of violence aimed at disrupting the ongoing five-week national election in the world’s most populous democracy. Similarly, in the days leading up to the April 5 presidential election in Afghanistan, the Taliban unleashed a campaign of violence to discredit the electoral process and keep voters from the polls. Many hope this election will be known for delivering the first peaceful transfer of power in the country’s history.
News & Updates
Feature
IFES Weighs in on Caribbean Elections During Annual Meeting
From January 16-17, 2014, IFES participated in the Seventh General Meeting of the Association of Caribbean Electoral Organizations (ACEO) in Paramaribo, Suriname. The two-day meeting covered key electoral topics that affect member States. Participants shared experiences and heard from experts in hopes of improving electoral processes in their respective nations.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Fostering Partnerships to Increase Political Access in Haiti
One of IFES’ main goals in Haiti is to increase access to the political process for persons with disabilities. Alessandra Rossi, IFES Chief of Party in Haiti, sheds light on IFES’ work in this area in the island nation.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
IFES Alumni Goes Back to School, Looks to Level the Global Playing Field
Alexandra Matthews, a graduate student at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, tells us what she learned about empowering the vulnerable while at IFES, and how this work inspired her studies.
News & Updates
Feature
Empowering Underrepresented Populations
In this podcast, Vasu Mohan, IFES deputy director for Asia, and Alan Wall, country director in Nepal tell us about IFES' work to empower underrepresented populations.