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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
Publication
Report/Paper
Report on Joint UN/IFES Mission Electoral Process in Liberia
This report summarizes the IFES mission regarding the electoral process in Liberia in 1994.
September 30, 1993
Publication
Book
Political Finance in Post-Conflict Societies
This study of political finance in post-conflict society identifies lessons learned from international donor-funded efforts to support political processes in post-conflict environments in general and the funding of political parties and campaign finance in particular. The document consists of eight case studies that seek to improve our understanding not only of the political dynamics of post-conflict situations but also of how to rally international support for holding elections and supporting democratization under such circumstances.
April 30, 2006
Publication
Report/Paper
Report Analyzing the UNTAC Cambodia Election Plan: June 1992
This report was prepared in 1992 and analyzes the UNTAC election plan for Cambodia for the 1993 elections. The document reports on the demography, laws, political parties, organizational aspects and voting process for the Cambodian elections.
May 31, 1992
Publication
Report/Paper
Accessible Elections for Persons with Disabilities in Five Southeast Asian Countries
All too often, persons with disabilities are not included in the political lives of their country on an equal basis with others. Accessible Elections for Persons with Disabilities in Five Southeast Asian Countries is the first systematic attempt to gather data on election access from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam. The report reviews – for persons with disabilities – existing legal frameworks, challenges and barriers in exercising political rights and participation; best practices and innovations; and examples of how disabled persons organizations have been involved in electoral issues.
October 25, 2013
Publication
Survey
Knowledge and Opinions of the Electoral Process in Cambodia’s Pre-Election Period
Cambodians head to the polls on Sunday July 28 to elect a new National Assembly. In April and May, IFES commissioned a nationally-representative survey of 1,752 voting-age citizens and 10 focus groups in five provinces across Cambodia. Survey findings indicate Cambodians are interested in the election process but report moderate levels of information on the process overall. Data also shows Cambodians feel informed on certain aspects of the elections, although a significant portion express the need for more information.
July 19, 2013
Publication
Survey
Voter Registration and Elections in Cambodia: Key Findings from an IFES Public Opinion Survey
IFES conducted a survey of voting-age adults in Cambodia on voter registration and elections.This report contains key findings on knowledge and opinions on the electoral process, experiences with and opinions on the voter registration update, and attitudes and opinions toward women in politics.
June 19, 2012
Publication
Report/Paper
Regional Director on “The Elections We Want” in Africa
As part of its annual report, the Wilson Center Africa Program asked IFES Regional Director for Africa Rushdi Nackerdien to contribute an essay on recent African elections. His piece, “The Elections We Want,” covered 2017 elections in Angola, Rwanda, Liberia, Senegal, the Gambia, and Kenya, and their implications for election practitioners moving forward.
January 31, 2018
Publication
Brochure/Fact Sheet
Liberia Elections and Political Transition
While post-conflict elections relied heavily on international technical and financial assistance, Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) oversaw the general elections in 2005 and 2011 with decreasing levels of international technical assistance, and both elections were widely deemed as credible. Despite these successes, however, the NEC faces challenges as opposition parties often express doubts about the body being independent and non-partisan.
January 28, 2015
Publication
Report/Paper
Pre-Election Technical Assessment: Kingdom of Cambodia
This report serves as an assessment of progress toward local and national elections in Cambodia. The results of IFES work stem from work conducted in 1995 concerning the formation of a committee to develop new laws on local and national elections. Included in this document are drafts of the local election laws, technical elements of the law and records of governmental, legislative and citizen discussions.
July 31, 1995