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News & Updates
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Promoting Voting Rights for Persons with Disabilities in Sri Lanka
In February 2018, Sri Lanka held a local government election to elect over 8,000 representatives under a new mixed-member proportional representation system. IFES worked with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and civil society partners to conduct targeted voter education initiatives for voters with disabilities ahead of the elections.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
IFES Chairman Submits Written Congressional Testimony on “Electoral Assistance: A Cost-Effective Investment in a More Stable, Prosperous World”
Chairman of the IFES Board Ken Blackwell submitted a written testimony to the House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs for inclusion in the record on “Electoral Assistance: A Cost-Effective Investment in a More Stable, Prosperous World.” Blackwell urged the subcommittee and the U.S. Congress to continue its tradition of bipartisan support for democracy, rights and governance.
News & Updates
Feature
She Leads: Empowering Female Candidates Ahead of Local Elections in Sri Lanka
Ahead of Sri Lanka's February 2018 local government election, IFES carried out a women’s leadership program, She Leads SL, that equipped 458 Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim women with practical campaign skills including fundraising, networking and coalition building, campaign messaging, social media use, public speaking, and development of personal campaign action plans. As a result of the She Leads SL training, nearly 43 percent of alumnae participated as candidates in the 2018 local government elections, utilizing skills gained from the training to elevate their campaigns.
News & Updates
Feature
Photo Gallery: Sri Lankans Learn About their New Voting System
Sri Lanka’s February 10, 2018 local government election introduced numerous changes to the electoral system. Under its U.S. Agency for International Development-funded “Improved Election Management Program,” IFES is working with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (EC) and local partners to support implementation of inclusive voter awareness-raising programs.
Election FAQ
Elections in Sri Lanka: 2018 Local Government Elections
On February 10, Sri Lanka held elections for all of its 341 local government bodies, after a two-year delay due in part to the adoption of a new, mixed-member proportional (MMP) system and the subsequent need for a new delimitation of electoral wards. To help you understand this important electoral process, IFES provides Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Elections in Sri Lanka: 2018 Local Government Elections.
News & Updates
Feature
The Principles of Election Reporting
Sri Lanka’s upcoming local government election will introduce numerous changes to the electoral system. The public will need to be informed of these changes in a balanced, impartial and fair manner. To meet this need, on January 8 and 9, IFES organized a two-day media training on principles of election reporting for 37 journalists from Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities from across the country.
News & Updates
Feature
Election Administration and Management BRIDGE Training Builds Internal Capacity
In order to achieve effective and professional election management, election administrators’ capacity must be continually prioritized and developed. From August 30-31, 2017, IFES Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) facilitators implemented an “Election Administration and Management” workshop for 20 attendees. The first day of the workshop focused primarily on the functions, structures, roles, and responsibilities of election management bodies, while the second day drilled down into a more detailed discussion of related election administration and management topics.
News & Updates
Feature
Women’s Political Empowerment: A Conversation on Capitol Hill
On January 17, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) organized a briefing to discuss how women’s political participation – both domestically and internationally – has developed in recent years; how political parties respond and adapt; the role that intersectionality and male allies play in changing gender norms in politics; and remaining barriers to equitable participation. The next briefing will take place on March 21, 2018, discussing “Ending Harmful Practices.”
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Vice President of Programs Testifies on Capitol Hill on Upcoming Elections in Latin America
On January 10, 2018, IFES Vice President of Programs Michael Svetlik provided testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. He was invited to speak to Members of Congress about “Upcoming Elections in the Western Hemisphere: Implications for U.S. Policy,” in particular about the strengths of electoral institutions in the region and assistance provided by the U.S. government.
News & Updates
Feature
Shaping the Next Generation of D.C. Leaders and Voters
As a global leader in democracy promotion, IFES recognizes the importance of cultivating the next generation of leaders and voters. In the spirit of cultivating this leadership more locally, IFES staff returned to Turner Elementary School, a public school located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on November 17 and December 8, 2017, to meet with fifth-grade students. They were part of a series of seminars on elections, in advance of the school’s first student-run election for class offices, which took place on Thursday, December 14.