ANFREL, NDI Release Pre-Campaign Statement ahead of First BARMM Parliamentary Elections The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) released a joint pre-campaign statement, seeing the First Regular Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parliamentary Elections (BPE) as an important milestone in regional governance. As the first
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
COMELEC, ANFREL put AESF-VII preparations on hold The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Philippines’ Commission on Elections (COMELEC) have postponed the seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VII), originally set for 21 to 23 April 2026 in Manila. The Philippines recently declared a state of national energy emergency, following the
Myanmar Junta's Planned Elections: Falling Short of Democratic Legitimacy It has been more than four years since the Myanmar military staged a coup for alleged widespread electoral fraud during the 2020 general election yet the country remains in turmoil. Amid mounting humanitarian crisis and civil unrest with the heavy militarization and armed conflict,
Empowering the Youth in Promoting Electoral Integrity, Strengthening Democracy As part of ANFREL's commitment to empower the youth in engaging in promoting electoral integrity and strengthening democracy, ANFREL hosts young students through its internship and youth-oriented programs including the Asian Academy for Electoral Integrity. ANFREL hosted four students from Tamkang University under
ANFREL's international election observation missions (IEOM) to different elections in the Asian region have been instrumental in ensuring electoral integrity and pushing for the advancement of electoral democracy.While the organization continues to strengthen its approach in these missions, fortifying election observation methodologies in line with international standards and norms, ANFREL has been
Launched through a special pilot episode during the 2025 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections, ANFREL podcast series "The Election Observer" is back with new episodes. Listen to insights and analyses of election experts and democracy advocates from civil society organizations and relevant electoral stakeholders on electoral issues and challenges in Asia. "The Election
To know more about ANFREL news and updates, visit ANFREL e-Bulletin (December 2024) The super election year of 2024 offered insights into emerging trends and challenges that could shape and affect the path of democratization not just in the region but around the world. There are moments in the past years, perhaps
To know more about ANFREL news and updates, visit ANFREL e-Bulletin (September-November 2024) ANFREL observed the back-to-back presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka. Pivotal moments in the political landscape of the country, the elections saw the victory Anura Kumara Dissanayake as newly elected president and his coalition's big win in the
In the second issue of the "Members Roundup" newsletter, ANFREL highlight election-related activities of members in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, India and Nepal. In Sri Lanka, ANFREL has been actively engaging with members PAFFREL and CMEV for the observation of the presidential and parliamentary elections. PERLUDEM in Indonesia has been monitoring the
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is launching the monthly newsletter "Members Roundup" to share news and updates about programs and activities of its members. The "Members Roundup" newsletter will feature information about what ANFREL members are working on in pushing for electoral democracy in their respective countries. It serves as
ANFREL is soft launching its new initiative, the "Elections and Technology Reader", a supplement of the bimonthly newsletter e-Bulletin, which looks into trends related to generative AI and other emerging technologies and their use and impact to elections and democracy. For Issue #01, ANFREL sheds light into the experience of Indonesia during
To know more about ANFREL news and updates, visit ANFREL e-Bulletin (July-August 2024) We're shifting gears! As previously announced, ANFREL's quarterly newsletter e-Bulletin will now be delivered bimonthly starting with the inaugural issue covering July-August 2024. We're exploring, testing and developing how we could better communicate our work so please send us
To know more about ANFREL news and updates in the first quarter of 2024, visit ANFREL Newsletter e-Bulletin (April-June 2024). ANFREL appointed a new executive director, ANFREL released the final election observation report on the 2024 Indonesian General Elections, and AAEI fellows conduct focused cascade sessions within their organizations and ANFREL were
The release of ANFREL's interim statement on its international expert election observation mission to the 2024 Indonesian General Election and launch of its new publication on electoral reforms were some of the highlights of the first quarter of 2024 for ANFREL. Election Observation ANFREL congratulated the people of Indonesia for their unwavering
About 300 electoral stakeholders gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal on 6-7 December 2023 for the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VI) while 16 young and emerging election observers and democracy advocates completed the first Asian Academy for Electoral Integrity (AAEI) were some of the highlights of the fourth quarter of 2023 for ANFREL.
The opening of the registration for the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VI) and the releasing of the final report on ANFREL's observation of the elections in Thailand and Timor-Leste were among the highlights of the third quarter of 2023. https://anfrel.org/aesf-vi-registration-opens/ ANFREL opened the registration for AESF-VI where various electoral stakeholders can
ANFREL released its interim statement and report on the 2023 Thai General Election and 2023 Timor-Leste Parliamentary Elections while ANFREL member organizations selected a new set of officers and members to the ANFREL Executive Council during the second quarter of 2023. ANFREL conducted international election observation missions to the recently concluded elections
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
ANFREL released the interim report of its observation of the 2022 Nepal elections, took in 10 journalists from Asia as media fellows, and welcomed new team members during the last quarter of 2022. Four teams of international election observers were deployed in Nepal for 10 days to monitor electoral processes. Nepal held
In the third quarter of 2022, the Asian Network for Free Elections released observation report on Philippine and Nepali elections, launched the Asian Media Fellowship on Election Reporting, and engaged with various electoral stakeholders. ANFREL released the final comprehensive report of its international election observation mission to the 2022 national and local
In the second quarter of 2022, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) observed elections in Timor-Leste and the Philippines, released reports on elections in Hong Kong and Cambodia, and continue to shed light on the situation in highly restrictive and repressive countries in Asia. ANFREL released the final comprehensive report about
In the first quarter of 2022, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released reports of its observation of the local elections in Thailand and the presidential election in Timor-Leste. The 2021 Thai Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO) elections, ANFREL found, were more genuine and democratic in nature than the 2019 general election.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is commemorating 25 years of advancing electoral democracy in Asia in 2022. In the last quarter of 2021, ANFREL organized the Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum 5 where participants adopted the “AESF 5 Memorandum: The Way Forward for Elections Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic.” ANFREL also observed
ANFREL and A-WEB are co-hosting this year's Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF) which will be conducted online on 20-21 October 2021. AESF is the largest gathering of electoral stakeholders in Asia. Working group meetings are being conducted ahead of the forum to discuss pressing electoral issues and devise solutions to address them.
ANFREL continues its efforts to support the people of Myanmar in their struggle for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar amid the seizure of power from the civilian government by the military in February 2021. On 17 May 2021, ANFREL released the final comprehensive report of their international election observation mission to
The first quarter of 2021 saw Myanmar's return to military rule with the Tatmadaw's staging of a coup which seized power from the civilian government on 1 February 2021. The Tatmadaw refused to recognize the legitimacy of the 2020 Myanmar General Elections and insisted on their election fraud allegations. The Asian Network
The year 2020 has been quite a challenging year for many as the COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of everyday life. For this edition of ANFREL's newsletter e-Bulletin, we highlight our activities and programs not just for the last quarter of 2020 but our journey throughout the year. The Asian Network for
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) continues to engage various stakeholders in Asia, especially in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, during the third quarter of 2020. ANFREL released the report of its assessment of the 2020 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election held on 5 August 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (The report can
For the second edition of the quarterly newsletter e-Bulletin, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) highlighted the developments in Sri Lanka which is set to hold their election on 5 August 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ANFREL hosted a webinar to gather updates and insights on the Sri Lankan polls with