IFES

Democracy is about people. Watch our new video, which showcases IFES staff and partners who work tirelessly to make meaningful political participation for all people possible worldwide. This video was made possible by the generosity of @Sida. Full video: bit.ly/3WR3Snn

Learn more and download "Election Investigations: New Challenges, Emerging Issues, and Potential Solutions": ifes.org/publications/e…

Five years ago, IFES released "Standards, Techniques and Resources for Investigating Disputes in Elections" (STRIDE). This quickly emerged as THE definitive guide to investigating election disputes. In five short years, the landscape has changed radically. Elections are more contested. More digital. More vulnerable to hybrid threats. ⚖️ Courts are seeing rising caseloads 💻 Cyber threats and foreign interference are more sophisticated 🗳️ Public trust is harder to earn, and easier to lose Yet one thing remains constant: credible, timely investigations are essential to election integrity and the rule of law. 📢 This month, IFES has launched a new report that builds on STRIDE. Author Regina Waugh tackles these emerging challenges head-on: → How technology is enabling new forms of electoral violations → How disinformation and illicit finance are reshaping the risk environment → How investigators, EMBs, and courts are adapting in real time This new report doesn’t replace STRIDE. It extends it for a more complex era. 👉 Download today and read the report to explore what’s changing—and what must come next. Link in comments. ⤵️ Because accountability in elections is never optional. It’s foundational. #Democracy #Elections #RuleOfLaw #ElectionIntegrity

Some great coverage of the event from @Vijestime: youtu.be/cxTQMKPqSto

Electoral integrity is built long before election day. 🇲🇪Today in Podgorica, Montenegro, IFES partnered with the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to convene a multi-stakeholder roundtable on strengthening oversight of political finance. Together with political parties, institutions, civil society, and the media, IFES presented new tools, procedures, and monitoring approaches developed over the past year to improve clarity, consistency, and enforcement in political financing. By strengthening rules, refining procedures, and enhancing institutional coordination now, partners in Montenegro are strengthening the foundation for public trust in elections in 2027. ➡️ Transparency and accountability are the foundation of trust. ➡️ Trust is the foundation of democracy. We are proud to support partners who are working long before Election Day to ensure that every voter can have confidence in the process. Tremendous thanks to Ambassador Dawn McKen for her opening remarks and to @UKinMontenegro for their support for this important work. #Democracy #Elections #Transparency #Governance #PoliticalFinance

And finally -- coming soon: with the working title "Securing the Vote Beyond Borders," this report will outline key considerations for organizing out-of-country voting. Stay tuned!

Coming soon: with the working title, "Strategic Communications Framework for Electoral Management Bodies," this report will provide guidance for building durable trust in complex electoral environments.

📣 New research. Big questions. Real-world impact. We are rolling out a new wave of reports tackling the issues facing democracy today – from the impact of artificial intelligence on political communication to the complexities of out-of-country voting. This is what IFES does best: turning global experience into practical insight. If you work on elections, governance, or democracy – there’s a lot here worth your time. More releases coming soon. Stay tuned! #Democracy #Elections #ElectionIntegrity

Direct access to the ElectionPATHS database here: electionaccess.org/election-paths

Last month in Vienna, Austria, in partnership with Microsoft, IFES launched the Election Platform for Accessibility through Human Rights and Security (ElectionPATHS), a dynamic new global database designed to advance inclusive electoral innovation. Elections everywhere are embracing technology. Yet for millions of voters with disabilities worldwide, the tools intended to modernize electoral processes continue to present significant accessibility barriers. ElectionPATHS addresses this by cataloging election technologies and their accessibility features, integrating information from technology providers and disability rights advocates around the world. ElectionPATHS will serve as a powerful resource for election management bodies, election observers, disability rights organizations, voters, and technology providers. ElectionPATHS is designed as a living database and will be regularly updated to reflect evolving technologies and best practices in accessible elections. The database also honors the life and legacy of disability rights leader Judy Heumann, featuring her favorite color – purple – as its background, symbolizing a continued commitment to advancing equal access and participation in democratic processes worldwide. Try out the new database for yourself -- link in comments! ⤵️ #accessibility #elections #ElectionPATHS

As polls closed on Election Day in Colombia, IFES signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the @CNE_COLOMBIA to deepen our institutional cooperation. The partnership will promote the exchange of best practices and support academic and technological innovation in electoral matters. IFES looks forward to working closely with the CNE to strengthen democratic institutions and support credible electoral processes. Partnerships like this help ensure election leaders across the region and around the world can learn from one another and continue strengthening democratic processes. #Democracy #Elections #Colombia #ElectionIntegrity @CJL202

El @CNE_COLOMBIA y la International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) firmaron un Memorando de Entendimiento para fortalecer la cooperación institucional y promover el intercambio de buenas prácticas, así como el desarrollo académico y tecnológico en materia electoral.

For nearly four decades, IFES has proudly supported women's empowerment around the world and led initiatives to increase women's participation and leadership in electoral and political processes. IFES continues to develop cutting-edge technical assistance to build the capacity of election management bodies and civil society organizations to integrate women’s equality and empowerment considerations into their work. And IFES undertakes women’s empowerment initiatives to increase leadership of women in political and electoral processes, including through our groundbreaking "She Leads" program. "She Leads" alumnae around the world have gone on to become election commissioners, community leaders, and mentors to other women. #IWD2026 #IWD26

One of the most interesting elements in Colombia’s congressional elections is the deployment of biometric voter identification at polling center entrances. Beyond verifying identity, the system directs voters to their assigned table, increasing efficiency and strengthening trust.

Accessibility is democracy in action. In Colombia’s congressional elections, Braille ballots are helping ensure voters with visual disabilities can cast their vote independently and in secret. An important step toward more inclusive elections. #Colombia #Elections #Inclusion 🇨🇴🗳️

🇨🇴 Colombia is about halfway through Election Day! Colombians are at the polls today to decide a new Congress and to select candidates from three major coalitions in a primary-style contest ahead of a presidential election in May. ☑️Voters are choosing from over 3,000 candidates, including two proxies for an "AI candidate" named Gaitana, to fill 102 Senate seats and 182 House seats. IFES Vice President @CJL202 and Regional Director @Maxzal2012 joined the official international observer mission, where they are visiting polling sites in the capital Bogota to speak with voters and election workers. One voter showed them the special ballot provided for blind and vision impaired voters. #Colombia #ElectionDay

Le CEP poursuit le processus d’inscription des partis, groupements et regroupements politiques. En une semaine, environ une cinquantaine de structures politiques ont déjà été enregistrées. Les inscriptions se poursuivent jusqu’au 12 mars 2026. #election2026