Short Course: What Works? Strengthening Electoral Integrity

What Works? Strengthening Electoral Integrity
Wednesday, September 2, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Hilton Imperial A

Details and registration: www.electoralintegrityproject.com
Queries: electoralintegrity@gmail.com
Co-sponsors: EPOVB, International IDEA, Electoral Integrity Project
What are the most effective types of strategic interventions which address common problems and improve the quality of elections? The international community has invested growing resources in strengthening democratic governance, which has come to be understood as a vital component of human development. Domestic reformers have also tried a wire range of measures. Nevertheless the effectiveness of these programs remains to be determined through gathering systematic evaluation evidence using multiple methods and approaches.  Workshop panels and break-out work-groups will consider thewhat-works effectiveness of the following types of initiatives:  1. Monitoring international standards: The role of international and regional inter-governmental bodies strengthening and expanding electoral rights in global conventions, treaties, and guidelines, developing evaluation metrics to monitor compliance with international law, and working with citizens, groups and parties to implement international obligations in domestic laws.   2. Strengthening electoral administration: Building the capacity of electoral management bodies to run contests impartially, efficiently, and fairly.  3. Improving transparency: Deploying international and domestic electoral observers to monitor the quality of elections, deter malpractices, and identify potential reforms.  4. Legal reforms: Improving constitutions and legal frameworks governing elections, including reforms designed to achieve impartial redistricting, accurate electoral registers, well-designed ballots, equitable access to campaign finance and media, secure polling, transparent counts, just dispute resolution mechanisms, and inclusive parliaments.  5. International actors: Investing development aid and technical assistance, and working with local partners, to strengthen elections.  6. Campaign money and media: Strengthening a level playing field and equitable access to campaign resources.  This workshop features leading scholars presenting research papers addressing these issues, using a variety of methodological techniques and sources of evidence. Diverse cases are considered from Ireland, the US, and Britain to Tunisia, Pakistan, Croatia, Ghana, Malawi and Brazil, in the attempt to determine ‘what works’ when seeking to strengthen electoral integrity.

The program has now been confirmed. To confirm participation and register for the event, please use the form on the project website (www.electoralintegrityproject.com).

The workshop will provide all participants with a buffet breakfast, morning and afternoon refreshments, a buffet lunch, and an early evening drinks reception. Participants should reserve their own travel and accommodation and take advantage of APSA annual meeting rates for hotels. A limited number of additional $200 domestic travel awards and $600 international travel awards are available for graduate students, women, and international participants included in the program who apply for these when they register. Participation in the one day workshop does not count against the rules limiting participation in the main APSA annual meeting which follows from 3-6 September 2015. This event will be the seventh in a series of EIP workshops held since 2012 in Madrid, Harvard, Chicago, Manchester, Montreal, and Sydney, building an international network of scholars and practitioners working on challenges of electoral integrity. We hope to welcome you to join us at this event!  Pippa Norris (Harvard University and the University of Sydney)

 

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