There is no denying that artificial intelligence now is integrated in various aspects of elections, particularly in campaigning as there is an increasing use of generative AI in producing campaign materials. While there have been beneficial impacts of using AI in campaigning, from generating materials to language translation helping extend the reach
https://youtube.com/live/l4w47e4ZBx0 The year 2025 was supposed to be a super election year for the Philippines with the national and local midterm elections in May, the first regular Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections in October, and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in December. The BARMM elections and
https://youtube.com/live/XEYHlC0wQxc?feature=share The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) launched a framework for monitoring campaign and political finance during the "Political Finance Transparency and Oversight International Roundtable" in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The report "Citizen Monitoring of Political and Campaign Finance in Asia: A
The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) expresses its disappointment and dismay over the signing by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of Republic Act No. 12326 on September 24, 2026 — a law that postpones the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from November 2, 2026 to the second Monday of November
Read the full issue here: "Resilience Watch | Monthly Brief on Countries Under Restrictive Environments (Series 03, Issue 03)" 🇧🇩 In Bangladesh, the political discourse was shaped primarily by disagreements over the implementation of the July National Charter and what this means for the country’s post-uprising institutional transition. The dispute over whether
Quezon City, September 22, 2026 — Congress has passed a bill extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from four to five years. The bill amends Republic Act No. 12232, moving the BSKE, originally scheduled for November 2, 2026 to November 2028. We call on President Marcos to veto this
Read the full statement here: "Short-term Observation Statement | Joint ANFREL-NDI Technical Assessment Mission for the 2026 BARMM Parliamentary Elections" Executive Summary The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) congratulate voters for their strong participation in the historic and long-awaited elections for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
September 15, 2026, Cotabato City - LENTE assesses elections beyond simply considering the number of voting centers opened, the number of ballots cast, and the percentage of the results transmitted; far from ticking these bureaucratic checkboxes, it is vital to ask whether the public has confidence in the process and, later on,
15 September 2026. The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) releases its preliminary assessment of the first regular Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections, held on September 14, 2026, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). NAMFREL has been accredited by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as a citizens' arm for the
14 September 2026. As voting is underway for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, the joint Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) continues to closely monitor developments across the region through the deployment of international
September 10, 2026, Cotabato City — After several postponements and delays, Bangsamoro voters will finally choose their first elected parliament on 14 September 2026, ending the transition period that began in 2019. With four days left until the 14 September BARMM Parliamentary Elections, the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) calls on all
Mandaluyong City — The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) released its Pre-Election Assessment of the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, finding that while the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is technically and logistically prepared to administer the region's first regular parliamentary polls, five compounding
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) are jointly undertaking a Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) for the September 14, 2026 Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines – the region’s first parliamentary elections since the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been utilized in several aspects of the elections with both positive and negative use cases. These use cases continue to expand, among them recently AI chatbots as a means for voters to identify the qualifications and platform of electoral candidates that match their interests, some even directly asking
Overview ANFREL undertook the 2026 Tibet International Expert Election Observation Mission (TIEEOM) at a particularly important moment for democratic institutions and credible election observation more broadly. The mission provided an opportunity not only to independently assess the integrity of the electoral process, but also to document and support a democratic system sustained
In Bangladesh, two years after the July Uprising, Bangladesh's democratic transition has entered a decisive implementation phase. While the July National Charter continues to provide a shared framework for constitutional and institutional reform, political consensus on how those reforms should be implemented has begun to erode. Constitutional disagreements, the evolving role of
Opposing House Bill No. 10376: Hold the Line on the November 2, 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) expresses its firm opposition to House Bill No. 10376, filed on August 1, 2026 and formally introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives on
This report assesses the conduct of the Maldives’ 2026 Local Council Elections, Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Elections, and the Constitutional Referendum, based on observations and evidence collected throughout the election cycle. Drawing on long-term and election-day observation, media monitoring, interviews, focus group discussions, and documentary review, the report evaluates the process against
Notes unresolved legal questions and accreditation concerns as election period begins The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) continues to monitor the 2026 BARMM Parliamentary Elections, the Bangsamoro people's first opportunity to election their own regional Parliament, as the election period formally opens last 16 July 2026, ahead of the 14 September
Two interns under the Global Service Internship Program shared their internship projects and takeaways from the experience during the final presentation program that capped off their one-month stay with the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), 26 July 2026. Throughout their internship, Alice and Vivi, freshman students of Tamkang University in Taiwan,
In June 2026, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and South Korea presented divergent but interlinked pictures of democratic governance under stress. In Bangladesh, the central democratic challenge during the post election period spread to be the growing gap between ambitious post-July reform commitments and their practical implementation. Nearly two years after the 2024 July
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) participated in the "Stakeholder Dialogue on Election Observation Recommendations, Reform Priorities, and Implementation Considerations" in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8-9 July 2026. The dialogue was jointly organized by the European Partnership for Democracy and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), in collaboration with the Bangladesh Election Commission
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) welcomed two new interns under the Global Service Internship Program of Tamkang University in Taiwan. GSIP interns Vivi and Alice participated in an internship orientation on Monday, 29 June 2026, where they were introduced to ANFREL's programs and activities. They will be with ANFREL for
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed small teams of election observers to monitor the elections in Bangkok, Thailand on 28 June 2026. Bangkok voters headed to the polls to elect the capital's governor and members of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council. Pattaya voters simultaneously went to the polls to elect the
Key Recommendations Ahead of the Bangkok Gubernatorial and Metropolitan Council Elections Overview On 28 June 2026, Bangkok voters will head to the polls to elect both the Governor of Bangkok and the 14th Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC). While public attention often focuses on the gubernatorial race, the BMC plays a critical role
Various forms of e-voting systems have been adopted in different jurisdictions in Asia like the Philippines and India. Other countries like Indonesia and Nepal have been looking into e-voting systems, particularly online voting for overseas voters. In this episode of “The Election Observer” podcast, ANFREL will discuss key considerations, factors and risks
The recent elections in Bangladesh, Nepal and South Korea showed the online mis- and disinformation as persistent fixtures in the electoral environment. Monitoring efforts also showed that gender-based attacks and violence online continued to affect women’s participation and engagement in elections. As prevalent as they are, however, the policies to address the
The shortage of ballot papers in the recently concluded local elections in South Korea that has led to doubts in the electoral process with people calling for a redo of the elections puts a spotlight on the value of sufficient preparations and sound voter experience. Similar and parallel incidents in elections in
A HOLLOW VICTORY: Why HB 8389 Falls Short of a Genuine Anti-Political Dynasty Law A Step Forward - But Not Enough The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) acknowledges the historic passage of House Bill No. 8389, or the Anti-Political Dynasty Act, by the House of Representatives. For the first time
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has been monitoring electoral developments and the state of democracy in key areas in Asia where actions to push back against democratic backsliding have been noted. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, ANFREL deployed international election observation missions to elections in Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal