Election Observations

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National and international election observation has become a central mechanism for ensuring the integrity of elections in post-conflict and transitional countries. Election observation has the benefit of nearly universal acceptance, and the presence of observers ensures that the electoral process is conducted according to international standards. Observation can raise voter confidence and serve as a useful indicator of the legitimacy of an electoral process and outcome. In addition, election observation can assess the role of women in the electoral process and determine whether women candidates are granted equal access to the media, public funding and other essential resources.

From the Library

Cambodia: Crusader Rowing Upstream in Cambodia

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2010-03-03 12:24
Summary: 

Ms. Mu Sochua is a member of a new generation of women who are working their way into the political systems of countries across Asia and elsewhere, from local councils to national assemblies and cabinet positions.

A former minister of women’s affairs, she did as much as anyone to put women’s issues on the agenda of Cambodia as it emerged in the 1990s from decades of war and mass killings. But she lost her public platform in 2004 when she broke with the government, and she is now finding it as difficult to promote her ideas as it is to simply gain attention as a candidate.

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To read the complete story please visit NY Times.


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MENA: Gap Lingers Between Women's Political and Legal Rights

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2010-03-03 11:58
Summary: 

The 591-page study released by Freedom House on Wednesday, supported through grants by the U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), contends that while women in the region suffer from greater inequality than women elsewhere, they now enjoy greater economic opportunities, access to education, and increased participation in the political process than in years before.
"There are more women entrepreneurs, more women doctors, more women PhDs, and more women in universities, than ever before," said Jennifer Windsor, executive director of Freedom House. "However, substantial roadblocks remain for women pursuing careers. These findings remind us of the complexities of women's status in the Middle East."

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To read the complete news story please visit IPS News.


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Monitoring Electronic Technologies in Electoral Processes

This guide aims to increase the understanding of civic and political activists regarding what transparency measures to demand in establishing safeguards concerning electronic electoral technologies, as well as what skills their organizations will need to develop to verify the integrity of electronic electoral technologies. Specifically, it covers the types of technologies employed, the potential challenges for electoral integrity brought by such technologies, issues to consider in deciding whether to introduce electronic technologies and transparency that should be employed when electronic technologies are utilized.

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Election: Iraq

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Submitted by Piyoo on Fri, 2010-01-22 09:45
2010-03-07
2010-03-07
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Iraq
Description: 

A parliamentary election is planned in Iraq for 7 March 2010. The President is elected by parliament to serve a 4-year term. In the Council of Representatives (Mejlis Watani)
275 members are elected to serve 4-year terms.


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Election: Togo

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2010-01-22 09:43
2010-02-28
2010-02-28
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Togo
Description: 

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term. In the National Assembly 81 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. Togo is a one party dominant state with the Rally of the Togolese People in power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.

To read further please visit IFES.

We invite individuals and other organizations from Costa Rica working in the area of promoting women in politics to share their views, agenda for the political parties and campaigns on iKNOW Politics.

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Election: Sao Tome and Principe

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Submitted by Piyoo on Fri, 2010-01-22 09:39
2010-02-21
2010-02-21
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Sao Tome and Principe
Description: 

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term. In the National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional) 55 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms.


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Election: Tajikistan

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2010-01-22 09:36
2010-02-21
2010-02-21
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Country: 
Tajikistan
Description: 

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 7-year term. In the National Assembly (Majlisi Milliy), 34 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms. Of these, 25 are selected by local deputies and 8 are appointed by the president, while 1 seat is reserved for the former president.
In the Assembly of Representatives (Majlisi Namoyandagon), 22 members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system and 41 members are elected by majority vote in single-member constituencies. All members serve 5-year terms.


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Election: Costa Rica

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2010-01-22 09:35
2010-02-07
2010-02-07
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Country: 
Costa Rica
Description: 

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term. In the Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) 57 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Description of electoral system:

* The President is elected by qualified majority to serve a 4-year term.
* In the Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) 57 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms.***

*** There are seven constituencies corresponding to Costa Rica's provinces, and seats are apportioned to each in proportion to population. Seats are allocated at the constituency level. Once all lists' quotas have been filled, there are additional considerations for sub-quotas of votes (50 percent of a full quota), and then for remainders less than sub-quotas. To read further please visit ACE Project.

We invite individuals and other organizations from Costa Rica working in the area of promoting women in politics to share their views, agenda for the political parties and campaigns on iKNOW Politics.

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Election: Ukraine

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2010-01-22 09:33
2010-02-07
2010-02-07
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Country: 
Ukraine
Description: 

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term. In the Supreme Council (Verkhovna Rada) 450 members are allocated on a proportional basis to parties with at least 4% of the total vote to serve 4-year terms.


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Election: Sri Lanka

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2010-01-22 09:30
2010-01-26
2010-01-26
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Country: 
Sri Lanka
Description: 

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected by popular vote for a six year term by the people.

The Parliament has 225 members, elected for a six year term, 196 members elected in multi-seat constituencies through proportional representation system where each party is allocated a number of seats from the quota for each district according to the proportion of the total vote that party obtains in the district. The other 29 which is called the national list are appointed by each party secretary according to the island wide proportional vote the party obtains.

14,088,500 Voters will be casting their votes at 11,098 polling station on 26th January 2010 from 7.00 am to 4.00 pm. To read further please visit Department of Election, Sri Lanka.

We invite individuals and other organizations from Sri Lanka working in the area of promoting women in politics to share their views, agenda for the political parties and campaigns on iKNOW Politics.

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