NDI conducts long-term observation of Nigeria’s election process in advance of the April 2007 elections.
Click here to read editions of “Nigeria Election Watch”
Click here to read the May 2007 Pre-Election Delegation Statement
Madagascar
NDI sent a pre-election delegation in advance of the country’s December 3 presidential election. The mission resulted in a statement offering an impartial assessment of the electoral environment and recommendations on additional measures that can be taken both before and after the election to strengthen Madagascar’s democratic process.
With November 5 presidential and legislative elections in Nicaragua certain to be hotly contested, NDI is working with Nicaraguan civic groups to encourage citizen participation, and a fair and transparent electoral process. NDI's civic partner, Ethics and Transparency (ET), recently completed audits of the national voter registry and the process for issuance of the national identity cards required to vote. An earlier public opinion survey by NDI had identified lack of identity cards as a major obstacle to voting. In September, NDI co-hosted an international forum in Managua with the Institute for Development and Democracy (IPADE) to focus attention on concerns related to the post-election challenge process. On election day, NDI's civic partner ET will deploy more than 11,000 Nicaraguan volunteer monitors to conduct a quick count of the presidential race, observe legislative races and monitor the legal challenges process following the voting.
Following Montenegro’s declaration of independence in June 2006, NDI conducted a comprehensive needs assessment of the Parliament and issued recommendations for modernization of the legislature.
Read the report: New Challenges for a New Mandate - Analysis and Recommendations for a Strategy to Develop a Key Pillar of Montenegro’s Democracy: the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro, in English or in local language.
Bangladesh
In anticipation of the upcoming January 2007 parliamentary polls, NDI organized an international delegation to Bangladesh from September 8-11 to assess the current political environment and make recommendations on measures that can improve the electoral process. Read the delegation’s report here, September 11 (PDF).
NDI Senior Associate Patrick Merloe discusses "The Bangladesh Elections: Promoting Democracy and Protecting Rights in a Muslim-Majority Country" before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Forum, October 17. Click here to read the presentation transcript (PDF).
Yemen
In anticipation of the September 20 presidential and municipal elections, NDI organized an international delegation to evaluate preparations for the polls and to make recommendations on measures that can increase confidence and participation in the process. Read the delegation’s report here, August 16 (PDF).
Mexico
Before Mexico’s bitterly contested July 2 presidential and legislative elections, NDI fielded two pre-election delegations to assess the political environment in Mexico and issue reports on their findings.
NDI’s Mexico office also distributed several Election Watch bulletins highlighting trends in the 2006 Mexican electoral process. The September bulletin is the last of the series. NDI is planning forums in the next six months with representatives of civil society and political parties on possible electoral reform options.
NDI is conducting a program in Sudan to encourage civic dialogue as the country makes its transition to the post-conflict era. Searching for a Path to Peace presents findings from NDI’s latest series of focus groups conducted in 14 locations across Southern Sudan and the Three Areas. Click here to read the full report, April 2006 (PDF).
Macedonia
International and domestic observers of Macedonia’s July 5 parliamentary elections say that the process generally met international standards despite instances of fraud and violence. NDI’s Code of Conduct for Free and Fair Elections— signed by all major parties and publicized throughout the country— highlighted the need for democratic elections as key to Macedonia’s prospective membership in the European Union and NATO.
For the first time, women were eligible to vote and compete in Kuwait’s June 29 parliamentary elections. With only one month to campaign, none of the 27 women out of 252 candidates was elected. However, they ran well organized, professional and positive campaigns. Their efforts are expected to impact positively on legislation affecting women’s issues, enhance women’s political participation generally, and promote their standing in other professions. In the lead-up to the polls, NDI provided assistance to women candidates on organization, message development and voter outreach.
NDI’s Director of Election Programs, Patrick Merloe, testifies before the United States Commission On Security And Cooperation In Europe (CSCE) on international election observation.
Read the May 17 testimony (PDF).
Last year, NDI Chairman Madeleine Albright joined UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and others at the UN in New York to endorse the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. Full Story...
Series on NDI Program in Yemen Wins 2006 Pulitzer Prize
On April 17, Washington Post journalist David Finkel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for “his ambitious, clear-eyed case study” in the series below.
NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. To find more information on specific NDI programs around the world, click on a region below.
First (03/30/2006)
Previous
#12 of 12
Next 
Last (12/02/2006) 
Syndicate
