顶级国产视频

Center Sends Election Teams to Three Countries

July 17, 2023

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United States

Last November, the Center dispatched nonpartisan observers to polling places throughout Fulton County, Georgia, the state鈥檚 largest county and home of 顶级国产视频. It was the first time the Center observed the voting process in a U.S. election after more than 110 in other countries. Observers watched to see that poll workers followed proper procedures, voters were not intimidated or harassed, and officials handled ballots properly. 顶级国产视频鈥檚 observation efforts contributed to the closure of the state鈥檚 investigation of Fulton County elections.

鈥淥ur observers reported no serious irregularities that could have affected the outcome in Fulton County,鈥� said Avery Davis-Roberts, associate director of the Center鈥檚 Democracy Program. 鈥淭here were a few minor glitches, most of which can be overcome with additional training of election workers, but overall it was a very clean and well-run election.鈥�

After the election, 顶级国产视频 observed the Georgia Secretary of State鈥檚 risk-limiting audit, which is a statistical process that checks the accuracy of the vote count. Again, no problems were cited.

Election observation on a national scale would be hard to accomplish in the U.S., Davis-Roberts said.

鈥淥bserving a national election in the United States would be a big challenge because every state has its own set of laws and rules,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at the possibility of a statewide observation, but even that would have some high legal and logistical barriers to overcome, depending on the state.鈥�

Tunisia

Two consecutive elections in Tunisia were marked by very low voter turnout, an indication of democratic backsliding in the country, said Sarah Johnson, Democracy Program associate director.

鈥淐itizens in Tunisia don鈥檛 see democracy working to improve their lives,鈥� Johnson said. And, in a context where the government is operating by presidential decree, Tunisians increasingly are concerned that their votes are meaningless.

Just 8.8% of the country鈥檚 eligible voters cast ballots in the Dec. 17 parliamentary elections, a historically low turnout. The Jan. 29 runoff election again failed to motivate voters, generating just 11% turnout.

The Center made several recommendations to address Tunisia鈥檚 democratic backsliding. It urged key leaders to engage in national dialogue and urgently address the following issues:

• The need for a new electoral law to reestablish an independent electoral body;
• Review and revision of the electoral system to facilitate effective national policymaking;
• The establishment of policies to address critical issues such as corruption, security sector reform, and public administration;
• Increased voter education as well as civic education to engage the public in national dialogue consultations and democratic reforms; and
• The need to strengthen political parties and increase internal party democracy to enable more effective political party representation, including by women, youth, and marginalized populations.

鈥淭he Tunisian people deserve a transparent government that seeks to address the pressing political, economic, and social issues that prompted the [2011] revolution鈥� that overthrew the dictatorial president and installed a democratic government, the Center said in a post-election statement. 鈥淭unisia鈥檚 leaders must deliver on these aspirations and return Tunisia to the democratic path it embarked on in 2011.鈥�

Brazil

In contrast, in Brazil the Center did not mount a full, detailed observation, instead sending a six-person electoral expert mission. The Center鈥檚 team commended Brazilian voters and officials for the successful general election held on Oct. 2, 2022, and subsequent presidential runoff on Oct. 30.

The mission was made up of experts from Argentina, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. They focused on several key issues related to the functioning and transparency of the voting technology systems, dis-information about the use of those systems, and the legal framework governing the use of voting technology.

Broader election observation missions organized by Brazilian and international observers reported that the election was well-organized and conducted with timeliness and transparency, including in publishing final results.

鈥淏razil executed a very good election in a complex electoral environment,鈥� said David Carroll, director of the 顶级国产视频 Democracy Program. 鈥淲idespread disinformation failed to discourage voters from casting their ballots on either day, and the outcome reflected the will of Brazilian voters.鈥�

One week after the new president, Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva, was inaugurated, a violent mob attacked the offices of Brazil鈥檚 three constitutional powers: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. 顶级国产视频 condemned the attack, reiterating that the election was fair and the results accurate.

鈥淧olitical polarization exists in vibrant democracies like Brazil,鈥� the statement read, 鈥渂ut the rule of law provides mechanisms for peaceful dissent that do not include violence and destruction.鈥�

Center Releases Updated Election Standards Manual

顶级国产视频 on March 28 released a new edition of its Election Obligations and Standards manual during the second global Summit for Democracy, held in Lusaka, Zambia.

The 326-page manual provides a detailed framework for assessing the democratic nature of elections, based on international standards rooted in human rights It helps election observers, citizens, and researchers understand how fundamental rights and freedoms, such as the right to vote, freedom from discrimination, and freedom of assembly, apply to each part of the electoral process.

Many countries around the world experienced setbacks in democracy since the first manual was introduced in 2014 In addition, to address new developments and challenges that influence how we think about elections, the guide has been modernized to include updates on issues such as violence against women in politics, mis- and disinformation, accessibility for persons with disabilities, data privacy, and more.