Over 200 electoral stakeholders representing Asian election management bodies (EMBs), election observer groups, think tanks, among others, are gathering in Kathmandu, Nepal from 6 to 7 December 2023 for the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VI). The Election Commission, Nepal (ECN) and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) are co-hosting AESF-VI,
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) welcomes the announcement by YB Dato' Seri Azalina Othman Said that the Cabinet has agreed to the enactment of the Political Financing Act. During her speech in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Azalina says that the Cabinet had referred seven policy parameters to the Parliamentary
UPDATE: Submission deadline extended until 31 October 2023. The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) launched an essay and video competition in conjunction with Malaysia Day and the International Day of Democracy. The public are invited to submit an essay or a video about the following: why democracy is important, most
Today, 14 September 2023, marks a significant juncture in the pursuit of justice as we await the verdict in the case of Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan of Odhikar. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) stands in solidarity with Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan of Odhikar. We urge the
Transparency Maldives, in their interim statement on the 2023 Presidential Election, said the Election day processes went well but expressed some concerns about the election environment especially on abuse of state resources. Election Day The report indicated that the Election Day administration was well managed by the Elections Commission (EC). The opening
Transparency Maldives said in their initial observation statements that the 2023 Maldivian Presidential Election was generally peaceful and orderly. The opening procedure at polling stations went well with all polling stations open by 9 a.m. and 85% of polling stations open within the first 10 minutes of the required opening time. The
NAMFREL is issuing this statement firstly, to clarify its position on the issues raised and, secondly, to give its point of view on the very serious allegation of fraud attending the 2022 National and Local Elections. As Bantay ng Bayan torchbearers, NAMFREL provides a thoughtful and objective analysis of the allegations as
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and co-host Election Commission, Nepal have decided to move the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VI) to 6-7 December 2023 in light of two big cultural and traditional events in Nepal. AESF-VI was first announced to be held on from 6-7 November 2023. Still in
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) met with the officials of the Election Commission, Nepal on 2 September 2023 to discuss preparations for the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VI). Last year, ANFREL and ECN signed a memorandum of understanding to co-host AESF-VI in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2023. AESF-VI is also
The Speaker announces to the Parliament the Supreme Court decision on the petition against the amendment proposed to the Local Government Ordinance by Jayantha Katagoda MP. Today (8th August), the Speaker announced to the parliament the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition filed by PAFFREL and several other parties against
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (BERSIH), together with Astro Awani, is pleased to launch the #VoteLokal campaign for the upcoming six state elections (6PRN). The primary goal of the campaign is to raise voters turnout for the state elections. Historical data of state elections that are not held in conjunction
The Asian Network for Free Elections said in their final comprehensive observation report on the 2023 Timor-Leste Parliamentary Elections that the polls were marked by peace, genuineness and transparency. ANFREL said the elections were participated by several political parties and saw a vibrant and peaceful election campaign environment with only a few
Press Release14 July 2023 BERSIH expresses our deep concern and disappointment that Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, whose coalition parties received more than 60% of party-list votes, is blocked by military-appointed Senators from becoming Prime Minister in the first vote. Such affront to the voice of the Thai people is irresponsible and is destabilising
Human rights advocacy groups are hosting a panel discussion about the 2023 Cambodian General Election on Wednesday, 5 July 2023. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and FORUM-ASIA will discuss the human rights and democracy challenges ahead of the general election in
Since May 2022, LENTE pushed for the conduct of the supposed December 2022 Barangay and SK Election (BSKE) and continuously stood firm against its postponement. LENTE welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court declaring Republic Act No. 11935* unconstitutional as well as the guidelines set by the court on future postponement of
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) welcomed a new batch of interns from Taiwan and Myanmar. Three students of the Department of Global Politics and Economics in Tamkang University will be with ANFREL for a month as interns under the Global Service Internship Program while an international relations and development student
The People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and the March 12 Movement launched a social media competition in Sri Lanka which seeks to "create an online space for people's voiced on democracy to be heard." The "Democracy In Our Language" social media competition invited the public to create and share
The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) gathered over 90 represetatives of civil society organizations, the academe, political parties, electoral reform advocates and the media on 26 May 2023 to discuss how to enhance the automated election system (AES) for the 2025 national and local elections in the Philippines. The NAMFREL
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) expresses deep concern over the disqualification of the Candlelight Party from contesting in the upcoming general election in Cambodia scheduled for July 2023. This decision by the National Election Committee (NEC) further undermines the democratic process in the country and denies the Cambodian people’s right
Download the open letter here: Open Letter: 413 Civil Society Call on Timor-Leste to Retract Invitation to Illegal 'Myanmar Election Agency' His Excellency Dr. Jose Ramos-HortaPresidentDemocratic Republic of Timor-Leste Open Letter: 413 civil society call on Timor-Leste to retract invitation to illegal “Myanmar Election Agency” 7 April 2023 Dear Mr. President: The
Several civil society organizations in Sri Lanka including ANFREL members PAFFREL and CMEV, which united as the Civil Society Collective for Protecting the Franchise, urged diplomatic missions in the country to call for the holding of local government elections to protect the democracy. With the uncertainty with the holding of the local
ANFREL trained leaders of domestic election observer groups in Thailand and Timor-Leste ahead of the upcoming elections, released the final report on the observation of the 2022 Nepalese elections, and concluded the second media fellowship on election reporting program during the first quarter of 2023. Some 35 leaders of election observer groups
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) organized a training of trainers workshop for national election monitoring groups in Thailand on 25-26 March 2023. Ahead of the upcoming general election, ANFREL gathered in Bangkok, Thailand about 40 leaders of election observer groups in Thailand to mentor them on training their members about
March 15, 2023 - We, as representatives of parliamentary monitoring organizations participating in the Parliament Openness and Monitoring Forum held in Taiwan in March 2023, we deeply recognize the importance of parliamentary monitoring, especially as many countries are facing the threat of democratic regression. We believe that parliamentary monitoring organizations play a
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee election-related issues concerning human rights in Sri Lanka ahead of the country's ICCPR review on 8-9 March 2023. ANFREL said the postponement of the local government elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about its legitimacy given
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) strongly condemns the blatant violation of the people’s democratic rights by the Election Commission, Treasury, Executive, Government Printer and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Police. Examining each of these public authorities and officials in turn, reveals how they have worked together to totally disrupt
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is deeply concerned by the numerous attempts to disrupt the long overdue local elections in Sri Lanka. The local elections were supposed to be held on 20 March 2022 and have been postponed for almost a year by the Minister of Provincial Council and Local
Auntie B, your aunt who first checks and verifies information online before sharing them, talks to her friends about the tactics of disinformation operators who tried to influence and sway voters during the 2022 elections in the Philippines. The first of a two-part series, "PROBE: The Budol Fight" is produced under the
CMEV expresses its deep concern about the indefinite postponement of the postal voting for the Local Government Election 2023. It has been reported that this is due to the Government Printer’s refusal to submit the printed postal voting ballot papers on time to the Election Commission. CMEV learnt that the Government Printer
Some of the websites and pages post only materials that either promote the government or attack the opposition. On specific occasions, their focus turns on journalists, writers and human rights defenders. By Qadaruddin Shishir As Bangladesh approaches a national election within a year, the authorities have shut down 191 news websites claiming