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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
News & Updates
Feature
Liberians Vote in Delayed Special Senate Elections
Originally slated for October 14, 2014, Liberia's special senatorial elections were moved to December 20 due to the Ebola outbreak. Amid this public health crisis, Liberians headed to the polls to elect half of the country's 30-member Senate. With the State of Emergency imposed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expiring in November, the conduct of this election was an important marker of the progress made in the fight against Ebola. Four different teams from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) deployed to the counties of Montserrado, Bomi, Margibi and Grand Bassa in central Liberia to witness the vote.
News & Updates
Feature
Registering Marginalized Populations to Vote in Nepal
As Nepal undergoes critical electoral and governance changes, IFES Nepal is working with local partners to register Nepalis – including Dalits, youth, Muslim women, freed Kamaiya (those subjected to forced labor) and other historically marginalized groups – to vote. This is part of IFES Nepal’s efforts to ensure that all Nepalis are able to participate actively in Nepal’s evolving political process.
Election FAQ
Elections in Liberia: 2014 Special Senatorial Elections
Originally slated for October 14, 2014, Liberia's special senatorial elections were moved to December 20 due to the Ebola outbreak. Amid this public health crisis, Liberians will head to the polls to elect half of the country's 30-member Senate. With the state of emergency imposed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expiring in November, the conduct of this election will be an important marker of the progress made in the fight against Ebola.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
IFES Q&A with Former Senior Program Manager Laurie Cooper
A former Senior Program Manager at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Laurie Cooper specializes in conflict resolution and the rule of law. Most recently, she was Chief of Party for the Liberia Land Conflict Resolution Project. In this post, she discusses her time at IFES, the Ebola crisis in Liberia and positive trends for sustainable democracy.
News & Updates
Feature
Improving Access to Citizenship Certificates
As a primary legal document in Nepal, the citizenship certificate is compulsory for banking; accessing formal education and employment; registering on the voter’s roll; and obtaining a variety of benefits, including social security and government allowances for people with disabilities, victims of armed conflict and internally displaced persons. Yet despite its importance, there are significant barriers – including lack of knowledge or supporting documents and issues related to gender, caste and extreme poverty – that hinder access to citizenship certificates, especially for those from Nepal’s more marginalized groups.
Publication
Book
Gender Equality & Election Management Bodies: A Best Practices Guide
The full participation of women and men in a country's political and decision-making processes as voters, candidates, elected officials and electoral management body (EMB) staff is crucial. Yet, despite a set of robust international instruments and many positive developments in recent years, women represent only 21.7 percent of world's parliamentarians and in many countries they continue to be marginalized and underrepresented in political and electoral processes. Clearly, major steps still need to be taken before true gender equality is achieved in this arena.
September 23, 2014
News & Updates
Feature
Ebola in Liberia: Its Effect on Governance and Democracy
Ebola’s destructive path in West Africa has not only displaced communities and people but has exacerbated the strain facing already weak institutions and governance. The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) hosted panel discussion on the key structural and governance issues that have been underscored by the current Ebola crisis in Liberia. The panelist provided keen insights into the complex and evolving situation. IFES Senior Program Manager for Africa Matthew Parry spoke about the challenges facing the pending elections and the role civil society can play to increase awareness about Ebola.
News & Updates
Press Release
Health Crisis in West Africa Erodes Peace and Democratization Efforts
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is deeply concerned about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This health crisis has resulted in more than 1,350 reported deaths so far in a region that has been moving steadily toward peace and democratization. This outbreak of the Ebola virus has already killed more people than any other Ebola epidemic in history.
News & Updates
Feature
Empowering Youth in Nepal to Secure their Voting Rights
As part of the USAID-funded “Strengthening Political Parties, Electoral and Legislative Processes” program, IFES Nepal is partnering with subawardees like Youth Initiative (YI) to strengthen the participation of youth, ethnic minorities and historically marginalized groups in Nepal’s electoral process. In support of this objective, IFES Nepal and YI recently launched a new initiative – “Voter Registration, Electoral Participation and Citizenship Certificate Support for Youth” – to ensure that eligible youth are able to register and secure their right to vote.