ANFREL e-Bulletin (April-May 2026)
ANFREL elects new EC officers for 2026-2029
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) wrapped up an intensive second quarter for 2026, marked by back-to-back international observation missions, critical post-election advocacy, and a transition in organizational leadership during its General Assembly.
ANFREL’s activities from April to June 2026 echoed civil society’s enduring commitment to safeguarding electoral integrity and expanding regional solidarity.
On 6 June 2026, ANFREL successfully convened its General Assembly in Bangkok, bringing together in-person and online member organizations from across the continent to review programs, address organizational priorities, and outline strategies against democratic backsliding.
The assembly served as an important milestone for the network, addressing institutional gaps and challenges while electing a new Executive Council to lead the organization for the next three years.
The election resulted in an Executive Council that reflects ANFREL’s broad regional membership, with representation from South, East, and Southeast Asia.
Executive officers
- Chairperson: Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, PhD (National Election Observation Committee/NEOC, Nepal)
- Vice-Chairperson: Ms. Elberel Davaa (Women for Social Progress/WSP, Mongolia)
- Secretary-General: Atty. Rona Ann V. Caritos (Legal Network for Truthful Elections/LENTE, Philippines)
- Treasurer: Ms. Laddawan Tantivitayapitak (Open Forum for Democracy Foundation/PollWatch/P-NET, Thailand)
Regional EC members
- Southeast Asia
- Ms. Khoirunnisa Nur Agustyati (Association for Election and Democracy/ PERLUDEM, Indonesia)
- Mr. Muhammad Faisal bin Abdul Aziz (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections/BERSIH, Malaysia)
- South Asia
- Prof. Sanjay Kumar (Lokniti-CSDS, India)
- Ms. Aishath Rizna (Transparency Maldives, Maldives)
Here are the news and updates about ANFREL’s programs and activities from January to March 2026 that you might have missed:
Programs and Activities
- ANFREL deploys international expert mission to CTA General Elections
- ANFREL launches final election observation reports for Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand
- ANFREL Member Spotlight for AESF-VII
- Open Letter: Towards ASEAN Recognition of Citizen Election Observers as Human Rights Defenders
ANFREL Members Roundup
The news and updates from ANFREL’s members and network are now a monthly supplementary newsletter “Members Roundup“. See here the April and May 2026 issues.
Elections and Technology Reader
Issue No. 9 of ANFREL’s “Elections and Technology Reader” looks into tech-facilitated gender-based violence through artificial intelligence (AI) during elections, highlighting the deep strain placed on policies designed to protect electoral integrity as online mis- and disinformation become persistent fixtures in the electoral environment.
This issue explores how generative AI is being weaponized in political discourse to target women and vulnerable groups through deepfakes, coordinated narrative manipulation, and sexually demeaning attacks in countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and South Korea. It further examines various regional responses to these threats, assessing the effectiveness of campaign bans, AI-based detection mechanisms, and institutional codes of conduct in addressing digital abuse and safeguarding democratic participation.
Data Dive
Issues 30 and 31 of Data Dive presents the findings and recommendations of ANFREL’s international election observation missions for Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives Elections and Bangladesh’s 2026 Parliamentary Elections and Referendum.
The Election Observer podcast
Stream all three episodes of the third season of ANFREL’s flagship podcast series “The Election Observer” via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
To know more about ANFREL news and updates, visit ANFREL e-Bulletin (April-May 2026). Subscribe here!