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.
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
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
Overview This issue of Data Dive is based on the findings and recommendations of ANFREL’s International Election Observation Mission for Bangladesh’s 2026 Parliamentary Elections and Referendum. In January 2026, ANFREL deployed an international election observation mission following over a year of engagement in strengthening citizen observer groups in Bangladesh, as well as
Overview This issue of Data Dive is based on ANFREL’s recently released Final Comprehensive Mission Report on Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives Elections, titled Rebuilding Trust, Restoring Credibility: Accountability and Electoral Integrity in Nepal 2026. The report was launched during ANFREL’s Post-Election Discussion with Electoral Stakeholders in Kathmandu on 13 May 2026.
Overview Today, 4 April 2026, Maldivians go to the polls in what is arguably the country’s most complex electoral exercise since the introduction of multi-party democracy in 2008.1 On a single day, voters are participating in three concurrent electoral events: the Local Council Elections, the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Elections, and a
Overview Today, 5 March 2026, Nepalis head to the polls to elect a new House of Representatives, in what is widely regarded as one of the most consequential elections in the country’s recent democratic history. These snap elections were called following the September 2025 political upheaval, which led to the resignation of
Overview Japan goes to the polls today (8 Feb 2026) in a snap general election for all 465 seats in the House of Representatives (Shūgiin). The contest takes place under Japan’s mixed electoral system – 289 single-member districts plus 176 proportional-representation seats across 11 PR blocs – and voters cast two ballots
Overview Thailand will hold a snap election for the 500-seat House of Representatives on Sunday, 8 February 2026, following the royal-approved dissolution of Parliament on 12 December 2025 – a move that placed the country under a caretaker period and triggered an election within the constitutional timeframe. The same day, voters will
Nearly five years after the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s generals are pushing ahead with multi-phase elections under the 2008 military-drafted constitution. ANFREL’s assessment report, Myanmar Junta’s Planned Elections: Falling Short of Democratic Legitimacy (September 2025), concluded that these polls will unfold amid widespread violence, mass displacement, and the systematic denial of basic freedoms,
Overview On 21 October 2025, Japan’s National Diet elected Sanae Takaichi as the country’s 104th Prime Minister, making her the first woman to hold the post. Her election marks a historic moment for Japan’s politics, but also reflects a period of deep political volatility and shifting party dynamics. Takaichi, a longtime member
Overview In September 2025, Nepal was rocked by its most intense political unrest in decades. What began as a government-imposed ban on 26 social media platforms quickly ignited a nationwide movement, with thousands of young Nepalis – proudly calling themselves Gen Z – pouring into the streets of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other
Overview This election comes in the wake of the unexpected resignation of India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on 21 July 2025, nearly two years before the completion of his term. Dhankhar, 74, cited health reasons and stated in his letter to President Droupadi Murmu that he was stepping down “to prioritise health
Resilient Participation in a Constrained Electoral Landscape Overview This issue of Data Dive draws from the Final Election Observation Report recently released by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) following its comprehensive monitoring of the 2025 Philippine National and Local Midterm Elections held on 12 May 2025. Conducted in a politically
Overview This issue of Data Dive is based on the two final election observation reports recently released by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), following its comprehensive monitoring of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka. These reports present in-depth findings from ANFREL’s international observation missions and were officially
Overview This issue of Data Dive is a continuation of Issue 16, which examined the dramatic political collapse triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief but controversial martial law decree in December 2024. In this sequel, we turn our attention to the June 3, 2025 snap presidential election, which emerged as a
Overview Cambodia’s democratic façade has steadily eroded, revealing an entrenched system of authoritarian rule masked by electoral formalities. While the country continues to claim democratic legitimacy, in practice it functions as a single-party state dominated by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which has maintained power through manipulated elections, tight media control, and
Overview The Philippines is set to experience its own "super election year" in 2025, showcasing a robust commitment to democratic governance and local development through a series of significant elections. On May 12, 2025, the Philippines will hold national and local elections. This will be followed by the historic Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
Overview The April 4 ruling by South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which unanimously upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, marks a pivotal moment in the country’s democratic trajectory. Yoon’s removal—only the second presidential ouster in eight years—comes after his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024. As mandated by the
OVERVIEW Youth involvement in politics has gained significant momentum in recent years, fueled by growing activism, digital engagement, and global movements for justice and democracy. Young people are increasingly vocal and visible in civic spaces, demanding accountability, equity, and meaningful change. However, this rising political awareness has not yet translated into equitable
International Women's Day Issue OVERVIEW At the beginning of 2024 — the ‘super election year — only 27 countries were led by women, showing a modest increase from 18 countries a decade ago.1 Despite this progress, women's representation in political leadership remained critically low. Of the 31 direct presidential elections held globally
OVERVIEW The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections marked a major political shift in India’s National Capital Region. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which first gained power with a historic mandate in 2013 and returned even stronger in 2015 after a year of Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) rule, once aimed to redefine Indian politics with
Overview Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been engulfed in persistent resistance, with young people playing a critical role in mass protests, the civil disobedience movement, and armed uprisings against the junta. The military has responded with brutal crackdowns, employing airstrikes, arbitrary arrests, internet shutdowns, and extrajudicial killings to suppress dissent.
Overview After fifteen years under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, Bangladesh now has a rare opportunity to strengthen governance and implement safeguards to prevent the rise of another autocratic regime. During her tenure, her government systematically eroded the independence of key institutions, including the police, judiciary, and bureaucracy, to consolidate power. Widespread human rights
The year 2024 marked an unprecedented milestone in democratic history, with nearly 3 billion people casting their votes across 73 countries, making it the largest election year ever recorded. These elections, spanning both local and national levels, significantly influenced the political, social, and economic trajectories of nations worldwide. For many, it was
Overview The Philippines is set to experience its own "super election year" in 2025, showcasing a robust commitment to democratic governance and local development through a series of significant elections. On May 12, 2025, the nation will hold national and local elections alongside the historic first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Overview The parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka, scheduled for November 14, 2024, are set to elect 225 members to the country's new legislature. This election marks a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka's political landscape, occurring shortly after the dissolution of the 16th Parliament on September 24, 2024, and the victory of Anura
Overview The 2024 Indonesian Local Elections, known as Pemilihan Kepala Daerah (Pilkada), will be held on November 27, marking a significant milestone in Indonesia’s electoral history. For the first time, all regional leaders—across 548 regions, including 37 provinces, 415 regencies, and 93 cities—will be elected on the same day. This synchronized election
Overview The upcoming Japanese general election is set for Sunday, October 27, 2024, marking the first national election since 2021. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, who was recently sworn in, will lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in this election. The official campaign period will begin on October 15 and end on October
OVERVIEW The ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India, are the first Assembly polls since the revocation of the region’s special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and the subsequent reorganisation of the state. On August 5, 2019, J&K was downgraded from a state to two Union Territories—J&K and
