Elections Today: A Seat at the Table
Winter 2001
During the recent national elections in Bangladesh, the organization I work with, Action on Disability and Development (ADD), deployed 300 observers with disabilities to work in eight constituencies throughout the country. The observers with disabilities showed tremendous enthusiasm in election observations. Their presence was identified as they wore their smart and distinct outfits-cream colored T-shirts, beige caps, brown and blue shoulder bag-all prominently displayed with the words: "Disabled Peoples Observation of National Election, 2001." This effort was funded by IFES, under a grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Assistance (SIDA).
Civil Society,
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities,
Elections,
Election Observation
Issues and Priorities for Bangladesh: The 2000 IFES National Survey
November 01, 2001
In 2000, IFES conducted a first-of-its-kind poll of Bangladeshi adults that measured their opinions about a range of social and political issues. At the time, Bangladeshi politics was dominated by conflict between its two major parties. Through the poll, IFES hoped to learn voters’ attitudes toward the country’s current political and economic situation and to document their policy preferences. The results were made available to political parties, the government and civil society to better inform them about voters’ concerns. Twenty-two percent of respondents said development should be the foremost concern of their country’s leaders, and 17 percent (the next largest group) said politicians should focus on improving the “law and order situation.”
Civil Society
Election Official Training in Bangladesh: Project Overview and Recommendations
July 1996
This report details the IFES Election Official Training Assistance Project undertaken in October and November 1995. The document focuses on the technical assistance and commodities support to the Secretariat in support of its newly established Electoral Training Institute. The report details the multi-tiered project which helped prepare the Training Institute for election officials throughout Bangladesh. The discussion turns to the preparation of manuals, the development of an Election Official Pledge and Code of Conduct and details the intricacies of IFES work in assisting in Bangladeshi elections.
Election Observation,
Elections,
Civil Society,
Democracy Assistance,
Youth Engagement
Bangladesh Pre-Election Technical Assessment (January-February 1995) for the Sixth Parliamentary Elections projected for Winter 1995-96
March 1996
This 1995 report evaluates Bangladesh's administrative systems for the delivery of electoral services such as constituency delimitation, voter identification and registration, balloting and election administration, poll worker training, vote tabulation, voter education, campaign practices, and media and civic participation prior to parliamentary elections. The report continues by identifying feasible areas for short-term technical assistance in anticipation of the parliamentary elections and provides a framework for public and private-funded assistance projects. Lastly, the report recommends longer term improvements to Bangladesh's election process as well as concrete actions which could be taken by USAlD and the NGO community in strengthening democratic institutions.
Election Disputes,
Political Parties,
Elections,
Legal Framework,
Voter Registration