Search
Filter by
Type
Publication date
Language
Type
Publication date
Language
Publication
Report/Paper
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
Election Material
Resolution
Comprehensive Peace Agreement Between the Government of Liberia and LURD and MODEL
Comprehensive Peace Agreement Between the Government of Liberia and the Liberians United for Reconcilation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) and Political Parties
Publication
Report/Paper
International Observation Mission Paraguay: General Elections April 27, 2003. Final Report
This report is issued as a record of the observations made by the IFES mission concerning the 2003 nationwide elections in Paraguay. It also presents a series of technical suggestions for the consideration of the Paraguayan government in the organization and administration of future elections.
June 18, 2003
Publication
Report/Paper
Paraguay: Mision de Observacion Internacional, Elecciones Generales, 27 de Abril del 2003, Informe Final
June 18, 2003
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Sobre n. 1
“Envelope nr. 1” is a listing tag, available in Spanish, issued by the Electoral Justice body of Paraguay. The tag lists the documents the envelope contains.
Election Material
Ballot
Paraguay Presidential Ballot 2003
Instructions for voting given out in Paraguay for the 2003 General Election. For the first time in history, Paraguay switched to an automated voting machine, where voters input the number of the party/candidate they were interested in voting for before confirming it by pressing the SI button.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral Felipe Salaberry IFES
“Superior Tribunal of Electoral Justice: Felipe Salaberry IFES” is an international observer identification card, available in Spanish, issued in 2003 by the Superior Tribunal of Electoral Justice, Paraguay, in the name of Felipe Salaberry from IFES-Chile. This international observer identification card was issued in lead up to the 2003 General Elections in Paraguay..
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Voto Electronico
“Electronic Voting” is an informative brochure, available in Spanish, issued in 2003 by the Electoral Justice body in Paraguay in lead up to the 2003 Paraguayan General Elections. The document is meant to instruct the members of the polling stations on the use of the electronic voting system during the elections. Some of the topics covered are: installation of the polling station, electronic ballot box and preparing the electoral documents. The document instructs them on different situations that might occur during the elections and how to be prepared to solve these.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Ahora Votar es muy facil!
“Voting is Easier Now” is a voter’s brochure, available in Spanish, issued by the Electoral Justice Body in Paraguay in lead up to the 2003 General Elections. The brochure instructs on how to use the electronic voting when electing the president, senators, deputies and governors.
Election Material
Civic Education Material