«« Пред. | ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ | След. »»
Regional Election Networks
One of IFES' most exciting projects is the creation of four regional associations for election commissioners and officials, two of which were established during 1998. These associations manifest IFES' commitment to build self-sustainability among emerging democracies and to diminish the role of Western democracies in building the culture of democracy.
The regional associations provide election officials with an ongoing forum to meet with their counterparts in neighboring countries, share experiences, exchange ideas, and both learn from and support one another. The associations strengthen the capacity of these nations to develop effective election systems unique to their cultures while reducing the need for future outside assistance.
Following are summaries of recent activities among the four associations.
Association of Caribbean Electoral Organizations
The Founding General Assembly of the Association of Caribbean Electoral Organizations (ACEO), held March 30-April 1, 1998, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, brought together electoral authorities from around the Caribbean. To date, 19 electoral organizations have joined the Association.
Association members first addressed the issue of access to the electoral and political process for people with disabilities. Although inclusiveness is essential to a true democracy, election administrators rarely deal with this topic. And because of a variety of problems, people with disabilities are often prevented from voting or voting in secret.
Three main areas were discussed.
 Awareness - People with disabilities typically have low voter registration and voter turnout rates, and election officials often do not take the concerns of the disabled into consideration. Conference participants suggested raising electoral and governmental officials' awareness of the concerns people with disabilities face, and conducting civic education campaigns that reach people with disabilities.
Accessibility - Access to voter registration and polling sites is often a major problem for people with disabilities. Among the remedies discussed were selecting more accessible sites as well as adopting home- or hospital-based voting, curbside voting, and voting by mail.
Secrecy - Election systems routinely ignore the right to a secret ballot for people with disabilities. Conference participants discussed some ways to ensure secrecy for all voters, such as accessible voting booths and Braille ballots or ballot guides.
The General Assembly unanimously adopted the San Juan Resolution committing ACEO members
«To work cooperatively with organizations of and for people with disabilities to remove the physical and attitudinal barriers which prevent people with disabilities from participating in the electoral process... [and] to design and conduct registration, outreach, and education campaigns which result in the greater participation in election systems of all people with disabilities.»
Association of Asian Election Authorities
The Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA), with twelve member nations, was formally established on February 10,1998, at its inaugural conference in Manila, Philippines. Conference participants agreed that AAEA would work to promote and institutionalize open and transparent elections, independent election authorities, professional election administration, citizen participation in the electoral and civic process, information sharing, and to develop information resources.
In its first major activity, AAEA, at the invitation of the National Election Committee of Cambodia, observed that nation's July 26, 1998 parliamentary elections. IFES, which serves as AAEA's interim secretariat, facilitated this USAID-funded mission.
AAEA deployed five teams of observers to four provinces. Overall, AAEA observed that the National Election Committee had prepared well for the elections and overcame difficult obstacles to complete the voter registration process, provide training to election officials at all levels, and distribute election materials in a timely and efficient manner. The Association determined the election credible and acceptable.
Association of African Election Authorities
The Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) held the inaugural meeting of its General Assembly on August 13-15, 1998, in Accra, Ghana. Coordinated by IFES, the conference was attended by election officials from 24 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations and donors.
The General Assembly worked to chart AAEA's future course. Priorities AAEA agreed to include
Conducting an in-depth study of the monitoring and enforcement of campaign finance laws and regulations in Africa.
Sharing information and lessons learned on a variety of election-related issues, including voting abroad, redistricting, and administering local elections.
Developing training in budgeting, fundraising, data analysis, logistics planning, conflict resolution, and mediation.
Promoting and institutionalizing the professional nature of African elections through regional exchanges and networking.
Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials
As most of Central and Eastern Europe's emerging democracies have gone through several election cycles now, the issues and challenges they must address are substantially different than when the Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials (ACEEEO) began in 1991.
Given these new realities, ACEEEO took new steps toward achieving financial and institutional sustainability. Prime among them was a decision, under the leadership of Secretary General Zoltan Toth of Hungary and President Zenonas Vaigauskas of Lithuania, to draft a new charter that clarifies the association's decision-making and operational processes, and its membership and dues structure. This charter was adopted at ACEEEO's highly successful November 1998 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. Central election institutions from 12 countries are now ACEEEO members. IFES has also joined as a member-supporter. More institutions from other countries are expected to sign the Charter during 1999.
In addition, in 1998, ACEEEO
Fulfilled a request by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to field more than 100 observers for the September elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Worked to make its Budapest Election Documentation Center - which provides information on electoral law, constitutions, electoral systems, election results, and general election administration - more user-friendly for its members.
Launched a new initiative, «Euro-votes,» which establishes an electoral training and study center at Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary for election officials, observers, and other participants in the electoral process.
Continued to introduce new election technologies and share innovative ways to counter election fraud and increase transparency in the election process.
«« Пред. | ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ | След. »»
| 
