GNDEM
Stories
GNDEM members around the world seek to effectively observe a wide range of electoral processes in their countries, employing systematic methodologies and innovative tools to do so. GNDEM highlights members’ initiatives, events and election observation programs through “success stories” featured online.
GNDEM Members Convene for Academy on Open Data Analysis and Disinformation Monitoring
From April 24-27, 2018, 15 citizen election observer groups from 11 countries, including 10 GNDEM members, convened in Belgrade, Serbia for an academy on information and electoral integrity through open election data analysis and monitoring the spread, prevalence and scope of disinformation during elections. The four-day academy included discussions on methodologies for monitoring disinformation in traditional and social media, methods for using open election data as part of election observation efforts, and various tools and skills for opening and analyzing election data to enhance fact-based findings. GNDEM members identified these issues as highly important to electoral integrity following a similar academy in 2017, and the peer-to-peer learning opportunity allowed members to share recent innovative approaches and learn from one another. Continue Reading
Citizen Observers Discuss Importance Of Monitoring Disinformation In Elections
On March 23, 2018, Mexican citizen observer groups joined together with civic technology groups in Mexico City for a workshop aimed at discussing specific ways the two communities could collaborate to address disinformation ahead of and around Mexico’s 2018 elections. Continue Reading
EU’s Electoral Reform Guide Highlights GNDEM Members’ Strategies
Citizen election observation has grown over the past 30 years into a well-established, global movement for enhancing the integrity of elections. Citizen observer groups not only monitor election day processes, but are also involved in pre- and post-election processes and between elections. Groups’ assessments of electoral processes typically include reports at various stages of the election cycle, as well as recommendations on how to best address issues to bring the elections in line with regional and international standards and to improve future electoral processes. Continue Reading
ANFREL Hosts Roundtable on Transparency and Integrity in Elections
From November 10-11, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), in partnership with the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Transparency and Integrity in Elections in Manila, Philippines. The roundtable convened election management bodies (EMBs) and citizen election observer groups from five countries - Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Timor Leste - to discuss opportunities and challenges of advancing open election data in Southeast Asia. . The roundtable builds off of the 2016 Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum III (AESF III), where the Bali commitments - eight open election data-related commitments to bolster electoral integrity and transparency - were drafted. Continue Reading
The Coalition Observes Kyrgyzstan’s First Peaceful Transition of Power
On October 15, voters in Kyrgyzstan turned out to vote in what would ultimately be the first peaceful transfer of power between elected presidents in the country - and Central Asia - since the fall of the Soviet Union. Following protests in 2005 and 2010 that led to the ouster of the presidents at the time, a new constitution was passed in 2010 introducing a strong parliament to better place checks on the presidency. Continue Reading
GNDEM Coordinating Committee Convenes for Fifth DoGP Implementation Meeting
GNDEM convened its Fifth Implementation Meeting of the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Citizen Election Observation (DoGP) from June 27-28, 2017 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Participants in the annual meeting included GNDEM Coordinating Committee members from la Red de Observación e Integridad Electoral - Acuerdo de Lima (RedOIE) (formerly Acuerdo de Lima) in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab Network for Democratic Elections (ANDE), Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (E-HORN), Election Network in the Arab Region (ENAR), European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) and West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON). Following the two-day meeting, GNDEM participants also took part in a Global Electoral Integrity Dialogue, a two-day exchange convening citizen observers, international observers and election management bodies on open election data - co-hosted by the Central Election Commission of Georgia (CEC). Continue Reading
GNDEM Hosts Two Global Events in Tbilisi, Georgia
From June 27-28, 2017, the GNDEM Coordinating Committee, representing all nine regional networks, convened in Tbilisi, Georgia for the Fifth Implementation Meeting of the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Citizen Election Observation (DoGP). Building off of previous Implementation Meetings held in Bali, Johannesburg, Mexico City and Beirut, the Coordinating Committee was able to discuss recent challenges, share experiences and best practices from their election observation work and develop action items for the coming year. Topics of discussion this year included solidarity and credibility among citizen observers; membership criteria for members to ensure activity and credibility; advocacy for electoral transparency, specifically focused on open election data; and inter-election accountability initiatives. Continue Reading
GNDEM Calls on Government of Cambodia to Stop Pressuring Citizen Election Observers
The Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) has learned from credible news reports that Cambodia’s Interior Ministry has been called upon to take measures against The Situation Room (a platform of over 40 nongovernmental organizations) for its election monitoring activities focused on the recent Commune Council elections. Included among those organizations is a GNDEM member, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL). Continue Reading
GNDEM Members Shared Best Practices, Experiences in the Balkans and Eurasia
From April 15-17, GNDEM members and citizen election observer groups from Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia gathered in Belgrade, Serbia for the CEE Elections Academy. 12 citizen observer groups from 10 countries attended the three-day academy, including 10 GNDEM members: Society for Democratic Culture (Albania), Coalition for Free and Fair Elections and for Sustainable Democracy (Albania); Center for Civic Initiatives (CCI) / Coalition for Free and Fair Election - Pod Lupom (Bosnia and Herzegovina); the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (Georgia); GONG (Croatia); Citizens Association MOST(Macedonia); CeMI Center for Monitoring and Research (Montenegro); Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (Serbia), Center for Free Elections and Democracy (Serbia); and Civil Network OPORA (Ukraine). Continue Reading
Amid Political Tensions, CRTA’s PVT Confirms Preliminary Results
Serbians turned out to vote on April 2, 2017 to elect their next president. With elections called only a month before the date, the political stakes were high between then Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and a number of opposition candidates. The election was seen by many as a referendum on the policies and actions of Vucic, whose Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) represents the largest party in the ruling coalition in parliament after retaining their majority in the 2016 parliamentary elections. With a limited amount of time for candidates to campaign and amid a partisan political environment, Serbian citizen observer group and GNDEM member the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA) mobilized the mission “Citizens on Watch” quickly to monitor the campaign period and conduct a parallel vote tabulation (PVT) on election day. Following the election, CRTA is monitoring post-election developments. Continue Reading