Election Commission of Pakistan Holds Workshop on Electoral Reform

August 17, 2010

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), supported by IFES, conducted a workshop on Electoral Systems and Reform. The event, held on August 16 2010, included a presentation from Prof. Andrew Reynolds (University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill), one of the world’s leading experts on electoral systems. Participants included the Chief Election Commissioner, other senior members of the ECP from all four provinces of Pakistan, civil society representatives and IFES Pakistan staff members.

Election Management, Elections, Election Procedures, Election Law, Legal Framework

Free and Fair Election Network Launches Political and Electoral Violence Reports

August 17, 2010

On Monday 16 August the Free and Fair Election Network launched the first two reports from its IFES funded Political and Electoral Violence Education and Resolution (PEVER) project. The project has used FAFEN’s field monitors in 150 constituencies throughout Pakistan to report on and verify incidences of political and electoral violence since October 2009. The first two reports cover the period of 15 October 2009 to 31 May 2010.

Election Management, Elections, Election Procedures, Electoral Systems, Post-conflict

Vendors Demonstrate EVM Technology in Pakistan

June 30, 2010

The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) Committee, established by the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan in November 2009, is tasked with conducting a feasibility study into the introduction of EVMs in Pakistan. The committee includes senior members from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and electoral experts from IFES. As part of the feasibility study, three leading EVM solution providers traveled to Pakistan and demonstrated their products.

Voting Technology, Election Management, Civil Society, Elections, Election Procedures

The Election Commission of Pakistan Unveils its Five-Year Strategic Plan

May 17, 2010

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) organized a press conference on May 25 2010 to launch its ‘Five-Year Strategic Plan, 2010-2014’. The plan lays out 15 major goals, and focuses on areas including voter registration, civic/voter education, electoral dispute resolution, and the inclusion of marginalized groups, among others.

Election Management, Civil Society, Elections, Election Procedures

IFES Observes International Day of Democracy

September 15, 2009

In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe September 15th as the International Day of Democracy. The preamble of the resolution affirmed that: "while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region...democracy is a universal value based on the freely-expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life."

Gender Issues, Elections, Public Opinion, Democracy Assistance, Civil Society

IFES-Pakistan Final Report Serves as an Electoral Disputes Guide

August 24, 2009

Achieving a fair and timely resolution of electoral disputes is critical for a democratic electoral process. For Pakistan, key administrative and procedural shortcomings in the electoral processes need to be addressed to enhance credibility and acceptance of election outcomes, promote peaceful transitions of governments in the future, and overcome current political challenges. IFES' Pakistan: Post-Election Community-Based Mediation and Adjudication Program, which began in October 2007, was designed to strengthen electoral dispute resolution processes and mitigate the potential for election violence.

Civil Society, Elections, Election Procedures, Election Management

BRIDGE Program Launched in Pakistan

August 18, 2009

Pakistan has held sporadic provincial and general elections since 1947 and 1970, respectively. Nine general elections have been held, but electoral cycles have often been truncated by periods of military rule.

Elections, Election Management, Election Observation, Democracy Assistance, Education

Improving Pakistan's Election Complaints System

May 13, 2009

Pakistani officials and international experts gathered at a conference in Bhurban, Pakistan to discuss the country's electoral dispute resolution process.

Election Disputes, Elections, Election Law, Legal Framework, Election Management

Pakistan: Post-Election Community-Based Mediation and Adjudication Program

April 30, 2009

Achieving a fair and timely resolution of electoral disputes is critical for a democratic electoral process. As Pakistan seeks to overcome various political challenges, key administrative and procedural shortcomings in the electoral processes need be addressed in order to enhance the credibility and acceptance of election outcomes and promote peaceful transitions of governments in the future. The Pakistan: Post-Election Community-Based Mediation and Adjudication Program was designed to strengthen electoral dispute resolution processes and mitigate the potential for election violence.

Election Disputes, Civil Society, Democracy Assistance, Elections, Election Procedures

Effects of Benazir Bhutto's Assassination on Election Efforts in Pakistan

March 23, 2009

It was the day when our team completed placing the details of 81 million voters on the Internet ahead of the general elections scheduled for January 8, 2008.

Electoral Systems, Elections, Election Disputes, Post-conflict, Democracy Assistance