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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.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Guia paso a paso
“Guide: Step by Step” is an electoral handbook, available in Spanish, issued in 2006 by the Supreme Electoral Council in Nicaragua in lead up to the November 5, 2006 Nicaraguan General Elections. The handbook is supposed to instruct the polling station officials about their responsibilities before and during the elections and to serve as guidance through the voting procedures. Additionally, the guide contains examples of the documents needed by the polling station officials when following the required voting procedures.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Constitucion Politica de la Republica de Nicaragua
“The Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua” is the official publication of the Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua, available in Spanish, issued in 2003 by the Secretariat of Legal Affairs of the Presidency of Nicaragua. The text of the constitution embodies the approved reforms of 2000. The constitution consists of 11 articles, some of them incorporating matters of national defense, general principles, Nicaraguan nationality, Education and Culture, and the structure of the state institutions.
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
Informe Final: Asistencia Tecnica al Consejo Supremo Electoral de Nicaragua: Area de Fortalecimiento. Vol 1
December 19, 1997
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Regulations on Electoral Conduct
Regulations on Electoral Conduct
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Law on Reform of Electoral Law
Law on Reform of Electoral Law