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Report/Paper
Lithuania: Money and Politics Case Study
Lithuania has rapidly developed both politically and economically since emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991. While the country has built a functioning parliamentary system of government, has become a member of NATO, and is on the verge of joining the European Union, it still faces many problems associated with the many consolidating democracies around the world. As in all democracies, populations need to trust that those they elect will represent their interests. Problems such as corruption, weaknesses in laws concerning the political financing, and unaccounted for political income and expenditures threaten the credibility of the process and hinder the speed at which democracy is consolidated. Additionally, Lithuania lacks the high level of vibrant debate about the issue of political financing among scholars, journalists and civil society bodies required to promote meaningful reform. Recognizing this, Lithuania has developed an independent Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and adopted laws requiring detailed and public disclosure of political finance accounts. Prior to conducting Money and Politics programming in Lithuania, the CEC had made a demonstrable interest in making information public. While scanning summary report of accounts and placing them on the internet, the user could not search, not easily compare and analyze the information. Interested parties were required to make an appointment to view more detailed, paper-based information. Further, while the Tax Authorities are required to audit final political party reports, enforcement is widely considered to be weak. Few, if any, cases of political finance violations have been forwarded and investigated, not to mention prosecuted. By addressing the difficult issues surrounding political finance with the support of IFES in 2002 and 2003, Lithuania is emerging as a model for other consolidating democracy to follow. Significant areas remain to be addressed. While Lithuania has taken concrete steps to reform political finance legislation, open political finance information to public scrutiny and oversight, and encourage debate, further efforts are required to actively enforce laws and regulations and raise the level of debate among the various governmental, legislative, and civil society groups. By addressing these areas, Lithuania has the potential for being an example of best practices while making local expertise and resources to other countries undergoing similar reforms.
December 31, 2002
Publication
Report/Paper
Kosovo: Election Assistance to Muncipal Election Officials: IFES Final Activity Report of Phase I, Oct 2001- March 2002
This report summarizes IFES’ role in the professional development of Municipal Election Commissioners in Kosovo. The report details the lessons imparted on Municipal Election Commissioners; voter education techniques; maintenance of impartiality in election administration; skills development including management, strategic planning, budgeting, personnel and human resource management, and preparing information sessions with the media, the general public and the international community; and interacting with political entities, NGOs, and municipal assemblies
May 31, 2002
Publication
Report/Paper
Selecting a Model for Election Administration in Kosovo: Conclusions & Recommendations from Discussion Forum and Conference held on 1-2 and 16 February 2002
This report summarizes IFES findings from two events on the future election administration system in Kosovo. The report provides recommendations for the future of the election administration system in Kosovo.
February 28, 2002
Publication
Report/Paper
Electoral Conflict and Violence: A Strategy for Study and Prevention
An electoral process is an alternative to violence as it is a means of achieving governance. It is when an electoral process is perceived as unfair, unresponsive, or corrupt, that its political legitimacy is compromised and stakeholders are motivated to go outside the established norms to achieve their objectives. Electoral conflict and violence become tactics in political competition. There are examples of elections that have exacerbated long-term conflict (Angola 1992) or have politically hardened conflict-related alliances (Bosnia and Herzegovina 1996). From these experiences, it is generally recognized that post-conflict elections can be held too early and produce results that may extend the conflict rather than resolve it. However, in most cases, such elections mitigate the effects of larger conflict issues and reduce them into localized, manageable incidents...
February 04, 2002
Publication
Survey
2001 Electoral Administration and Performance: Findings from the IFES Survey on the November 2001 Kosovo Assembly Election
The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) has been working within Kosovo since the cessation of NATO bombing in 1999 by providing technical assistance to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the administration of Kosovar elections. IFES assisted the OSCE and UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in creating a civil registration system, a necessary step to normalize public administration and to register voters. Leading up to the successful October 2000 Municipal Elections, IFES assisted the OSCE in establishing a legal electoral framework, developing a technical infrastructure, and training election officials and poll workers. Fueled by the success of the Municipal Elections, the OSCE, with assistance from IFES, decided to strengthen the capacity of the newly formed Municipal Election Commissions. In order to pinpoint exactly what aspects of electoral administration needed to be developed, IFES conducted a post-election survey after the municipal elections. Based on the results of that survey, IFES and the OSCE planned its activities for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Kosovo, which were scheduled to be held on 17 November 2001 and would result in the formation of Kosovo’s first elected Assembly, which would then elect Kosovo’s first democratically elected President. On Election Day, 65 percent of the Province’s 1.25 million people visited the polling stations in order to participate in the highly successful democratic election of Kosovo’s Assembly. Following the 17 November 2001 Assembly Election, IFES conducted its second postelection survey of people from Kosovo who had participated in the elections as either election administrators or observers. This survey follows the format of the survey conducted after the 2000 Municipal Elections in Kosovo. The sample included Municipal Election Commission (MEC) members, Polling Station Committee (PSC) members, and representatives from political entities and NGOs that fielded election observers. The sample was composed of representatives from all political and ethnic groups and covered every municipality in Kosovo. The survey had two main goals: first to assess the performance of electoral administrators in the 2001 Kosovo Assembly Election and to compare this performance with 2000 and second to assess the role the international community is playing in election administration in Kosovo and make recommendations regarding the process of transferring election administration to Kosovo institutions. In total, 1,200 questionnaires were distributed between 28 November and 18 December. Of these, 979 were returned, resulting in a response rate of 81.6 percent.
January 31, 2002
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Manual de Capacitacion Electoral - Miembros de Colegios
“Electoral Training Manual-Electoral College Members” is an electoral training workbook, available in Spanish, issued in 2002 by the Central Electoral Board, in lead up to the May 16, 2002 Congressional and Municipal Elections in the Dominican Republic. The manual is a descriptive source of information about the procedures and attributes for those who will become Electoral College Members during the 2002 Congressional and Municipal Elections. The guide provides information on the responsibilities of each member of the Electoral College at the different stages in the electoral process. Additionally, it includes various forms of valuable use for the college members at all times during the electoral process.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Boleta Congresional
“The Congressional Ballot” is an informative brochure, available in Spanish, issued in 2002 by the Central Electoral Board in lead up to the May 16, 2002 Congressional Elections in the Dominican Republic. The brochure contains the list of the candidate political parties as well as instructions on the voting procedures in the Congressional Elections.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Boleta Municipal
“The Municipal Ballot” is an informative brochure, available in Spanish, issued in 2002 by the Central Electoral Board in lead up to the May 16, 2002 Municipal Elections in the Dominican Republic. The brochure contains the list of the candidate political parties as well as instructions on the voting procedures in the Municipal Elections.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Boleta Para Fines Educativos (Elecciones Ordinarias Generales Congresionales y Municipales)
“Ballot for Educative Means (General Congressional and Municipal Elections)” is an informative brochure, available in Spanish, issued in 2002 by the Central Electoral Board in lead up to the May 16, 2002 Congressional and Municipal in the Dominican Republic. The brochure has a sample of the ballot at both the municipal and congressional elections as well as it provides a brief explanation of the voting procedure.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo
Written by Kosovo and international legal experts and signed on May 16th, 2001 by United Nations Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Chief Hans Haekkerup, “Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo” outlines the structure of government in Kosovo after the November 17th, 2001 general elections. It details institutions soon to be under the control of Kosovo’s leaders and civil servants and includes basic voting information in an effort to further educate the public.