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The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) supports citizens' right to participate in Vision: Democracy for a better future.
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Mission: Together we build resilient democracies that deliver for all. IFES' Strategic Outcomes:
1. Trusted electoral stakeholders deliver credible elections.

2. Effective governing institutions are accountable to the people they serve.

3. All people safely participate in civic and political life on an equal basis.

4. Technology, information and data positively serve elections and democracy. Go to https://www.ifes.org/who-we-are to learn more about us. Posts/Follows/Likes ≠ Endorsement

10/29/2026

AI has enormous potential to make political participation more accessible. But thoughtful design will determine whether that potential becomes reality

On November 4, IFES’ Virginia Atkinson will join experts from academia, civil society, and the technology sector at American University (AU) for "The Transnational Challenge of Inclusive AI Governance: Celebrating 15 Years of Continuity and Change," hosted by the UNESCO Chair at AU.

AI offers enormous potential to remove barriers through tools such as captioning, translation, and personalized support. At the same time, poorly designed systems risk reinforcing existing inequalities and creating new obstacles for participation.

How can we ensure that advances in AI expand participation rather than deepen exclusion?

Join the conversation in Washington, DC, or online!
📅 Wednesday, November 4
📍 American University | Hybrid event

🔗 Register:

10/27/2026

10/25/2026

As AI transforms politics, how do we keep elections one step ahead of the technology?

That question was front and center at IFES' Washington book salon last week celebrating Katie Harbath's new book, "Disrupting Politics: A Front Row Seat to the Collision of Technology and Democracy."

Drawing on more than two decades at the intersection of technology and politics, including a decade at Facebook, Katie shared a rare insider's perspective on how digital platforms have reshaped elections worldwide.

Joining Katie, IFES' Lisa Poggiali, PhD, Saurabh Shukla (NewsMobile), and David Lopez (Google) explored some of the most pressing challenges facing elections today:

🔹 AI and decision making: How can we prevent emerging technologies from becoming powerful tools for electoral interference?

🔹 Shared responsibility: Why collaboration among technology platforms, media, and civil society is essential to safeguarding electoral integrity.

🔹 Lessons from the inside: What two decades of technological disruption can teach us about the future of democracy.

A huge thank you to Katie, our panelists, and the engaged audience for a thought-provoking evening and lively conversation!

The technology will keep evolving. Our thinking and approach must evolve with it.

10/15/2026

💡Election integrity doesn't begin on Election Day.

In Montenegro, preparations for the 2027 elections are already confronting a critical challenge: how to ensure transparency and integrity of competition before official campaigns even begin.

Working with IFES, Montenegro's Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) developed new risk assessment methodologies in pre-campaigning activities and is implementing procedures to monitor them.

ASK is now putting that work into practice, calling for greater accountability and transparency ahead of the 2027 elections.

The lesson extends far beyond Montenegro: strengthening electoral integrity means identifying risks well before they might materialize into problems.

Read more in the ASK statement – link in comments! ⤵️

[Photo: IFES workshop with the APC in June.]

10/14/2026

WHAT IF making AI more accessible also makes democracy stronger?

That was the question IFES brought to the Athens Democracy Forum last week, where global leaders and experts gathered to confront mounting challenges to democracy, including the rapid rise of AI.

In an interactive discussion led by Virginia Atkinson, Rosemarie Ramitt, Małgorzata Grobelna, and Breandan Ward, IFES explored how to harness AI’s potential while safeguarding democratic values, human rights, and accessibility.

The key takeaway? Accessibility and democratic integrity go hand in hand.

Transparency, accountability, and oversight that make AI work for persons with disabilities can also strengthen democratic processes for everyone.

The conversation continues at the Zero Project Conference in Vienna this February!

10/09/2026

We love that we get to close out the week with a new date for the 2026 IFES Charles T Manatt Democracy Award Celebration! Put it in your calendar:

🗓️ ✒️ Monday, November 30, 5:00 PM (ET)

For our friends and colleagues outside of Washington, DC: livestream details coming soon!

10/03/2026

IFES' Dr. Magnus Ohman at the International Roundtable on Political Finance Transparency and Oversight concluded in Ulaanbaatar last month!

10/02/2026

💬 Insights from the Bangladesh Election Commission on IFES’ work on overseas voting:

“I have seen firsthand IFES' support to the Bangladesh Election Commission in implementing an IT-supported postal voting system. This conference was another testament to that commitment, creating a valuable space for countries to learn from one another and strengthen their overseas voting systems”

10/02/2026

How can countries ensure citizens living abroad have a meaningful opportunity to vote?

Last month, election officials from across the Asia-Pacific region came together in Colombo for the Regional Conference on Overseas Voting, co-hosted by IFES and the Election Commission of Sri Lanka.

Drawing on experiences from Australia, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and the Philippines, participants explored the opportunities and challenges of out-of-country voting and the different approaches countries have taken.

The key lesson: there is no one-size-fits-all model. Each country needs an approach that reflects its citizens, institutions and circumstances while supporting accessibility, security, electoral integrity and public confidence.

Here are a few moments from two days of dynamic regional exchange and collaboration.

AEC, COMELEC, Elections Commission of Maldives, Bangladesh Election Commission Secretariat, Election Commission, Nepal, Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete, Australian High Commission, Sri Lanka, IFES Sri Lanka

Address

2000 M Street NW
Arlington, VA
20036

Telephone

+12023506700

Website

http://www.IFES.org/

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