Access for All During the Philippines’ 2013 Midterm Poll
May 17, 2013
The May 13, 2013, midterm elections in the Philippines were significant, as they marked the second time Filipinos participated in nationwide automated elections. Many believe these midterm polls will forecast what the 2016 general elections will look like.
The Philippine Election Commission made strides in ensuring election access for vulnerable populations, consulting with stakeholders and civil society in the lead up to Election Day.
Pakistanis Comment on the Historic 2013 Elections
May 15, 2013
Pakistan held elections on May 11, 2013. This was the first time in the country’s history that one elected government completed its full term and handed power to another civilian government. Despite incidents of violence ahead of and on Election Day, the overall mood in the country was very positive. At 60 percent, turnout was higher than in previous elections. In this collection of photos, people in Pakistan share their views and experiences on the general election.
All Citizen Participation,
All Inclusion and Empowerment
Reflecting on the Role of Media in Elections
May 14, 2013
Throughout the electoral and political process, media can shed light on candidates and political parties; educate voters on key procedures; and inform the public of electoral developments. Media plays an influential role in elections and is crucial for the development of democracy. IFES helps journalists and election management bodies (EMBs) around the world strengthen their relationship. IFES does this by training journalists and EMB; establishing media centers; and using traditional and social media to better communicate with citizens. These photos capture the role of media during the electoral process.
Media Relations,
All Election Management
Preparing for the May 13, 2013 Elections in the Philippines
May 11, 2013
The Philippines is holding midterm elections on May 13, 2013. The polls are significant as they will be the second time the Philippines uses a nationwide automated election system and the midterm elections are largely considered to provide insight into the upcoming 2016 general elections. After years of planning, including a continuous voter registration process and a general registration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Philippine Election Commission (COMELEC) will serve approximately 52 million registered voters on Election Day. These images provide insight into the many preparations that took place ahead of the polls.
All Citizen Participation,
All Electoral Integrity and Transparency,
All Election Management
Ahead of May 13 Polls, Testing Election Technology in the Philippines
May 06, 2013
The Philippine Election Commission (COMELEC) recently finished final testing and sealing of the precinct count optical scanners (PCOS) – a week before local and national elections on May 13. This exercise was conducted by almost 78,000 sets of polling officials nationwide.Testing and sealing is an important step before PCOS machines can be determined ready for use on Election Day. IFES staff visited a polling center at the University of the Philippines Integrated School in Quezon City to watch the testing and sealing proceedings. The voting center supervisor directed all officials to conduct their testing in the school’s social hall. The photo gallery captures the testing exercise.
All Election Management,
All Electoral Integrity and Transparency
Snapshot of Georgia’s 2013 Parliamentary By-Elections
April 30, 2013
On April 27, 2013, Georgia held by-elections in the districts of Nadzaladevi, Baghdati and Samtredia to fill three majoritarian seats. These seats opened following political appointments made after the October 2012 parliamentary elections. Eleven candidates in Nadzaladevi, eight in Baghdati and five in Samtredia registered as participants for the by-elections. According to Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC), the district of Nadzaladevi in Tbilisi has 140,000 voters, making it the third largest district in Georgia. The districts of Samtredia and Baghdati in the Imereti region have 48,000 and 24,000 voters, respectively. The images below provide an inside look at Election Day.
All Citizen Participation,
All Inclusion and Empowerment
Protecting the Vote: Election Security Worldwide
April 17, 2013
On Election Day, every vote counts. Confidentiality and security are critical, but elections can be vulnerable to security threats against participants, infrastructure, information and materials.To ensure the integrity of the electoral process, various security measures should be instituted during all phases of an election. This gallery contains a collection of different actions taken across the globe to safeguard elections.
Election Security,
All Electoral Integrity and Transparency
Kosovo Civic Education Campaign
March 18, 2013
In the fall of 2012, IFES collaborated with six local partners in Kosovo to launch “Participate,” a civic education campaign aimed at increasing public awareness on democratic values. This includes independent voting; the role of women, youth and minority groups in election processes; roles and responsibilities of election management bodies; and electoral complaints. The campaign reached 33,883 voters through face-to-face activities; distributed 87,482 informational brochures, pamphlets and other printed material; and reached over 600,000 Kosovars through TV and radio programs, as well as newspaper articles. This gallery contains a collection of photos taken during campaign activities.
All Citizen Participation,
All Inclusion and Empowerment
Celebrating 2013 International Women's Day
March 07, 2013
Today, Friday, March 8, IFES celebrates 2013 International Women’s Day. For over 25 years, IFES has worked to ensure all individuals, men and women, participate equally in the political process.
The full participation of women in political, social and economic life is beneficial to families, communities and nations. Women’s presence in leadership positions, along with gender-sensitive male counterparts, can play a critical role in increasing participation and developing a diversity of viewpoints in decision making. IFES empowers women throughout the world to play a stronger role in this process.
Women's Empowerment,
All Inclusion and Empowerment