Patrick Merloe is a strategic advisor to NDI. From 1993 to 2022 he served as NDI’s senior associate and director of electoral programs. Pat has over 40 years of experience in promoting citizen empowerment, governmental accountability and public policy advocacy. He has participated in over 190 international missions for NDI to more than 65 countries, concerning political rights, electoral integrity and democratic development. He has produced a dozen publications on comparative law, human rights and elections, and served as the principal drafter and negotiator of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which is endorsed by more than 50 international organizations. He also facilitated the process that produced the Declaration of Global Principles for nonpartisan election monitoring by citizen organizations, promulgated by the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) and endorsed by over 290 organizations from more than 85 countries. Both declarations have been recognized with appreciation by UN General Assembly resolutions. Pat is a frequent public speaker, has appeared on numerous news outlets and has occasionally provided Congressional testimony. He has taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of San Francisco and University of the District of Columbia law schools.  He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania, conducted graduate work at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., and completed his undergraduate education at Temple University.  

Selected writings and statements from Mr. Merloe:

• Democracy Support Strategies in Africa, congressional testimony, May 18, 2016
• Crackdowns on Citizen Election Monitors Reveal Authoritarian Fear, www.resurgentdictatorship.org, May 17, 2016
• The Role of Citizens in Democracy, DemWorks, April 12, 2016
• Venezuela, Burma, Burkina Faso – Connect the Democratic Dots, DemWorks, December 21, 2015
• Authoritarianism Goes Global: Election Monitoring versus Disinformation, Journal of Democracy, July 2015 and Authoritarianism Goes Global: The Challenge to Democracy (Diamond, Plattner & Walker, eds. 2016)
• Facing “Democratic Recession” Requires Democratic Resolve, DemWorks, March 9, 2015
• U.S. Election Support in Africa, congressional testimony, March 18, 2015. 
• Statements on democratic elections, Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Sept. 30, 2011
• International Support for Elections: Effective Strategies and Accountability Systems, remarks to the OECD, March 1, 2010
• Future Directions for Democracy Support, remarks at Promoting Political Freedom and Deepening Democracy Conference, June 25, 2009
• Promoting Legal Frameworks for Democratic Elections, Sept. 30, 2008
• International Principles for Democratic Elections Chapter 2: Human Rights - the Basis for Inclusiveness, Transparency, Accountability and Public Confidnece in Elections, July 9, 2008
• Monitoring Electronic Technologies in Electoral Processes, December 31, 2007
• The Bangladesh Elections: Promoting Democracy and Protecting Rights in a Muslim-Majority Country, speech, Oct. 17, 2006
• Advancing the Human Dimension: the Role of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, congressional testimony, May 17, 2006
• Freedom Denied: Belarus on the Eve of the Elections, congressional testimony, March 9, 2006
• Introductory remarks at the Supplemental Human Dimension Meeting of the 55 OSCE Participating States, speech, July 15, 2004
• Elections, Human Rights and Conflict Mitigation in the OSCE Arena, speech, Nov. 10, 2003
• Promoting Effective Democratic Reform in Semi-Authoritarian States and Pseudo-Democracies, discussion paper, Jan. 23, 2003
• Media Monitoring to Promote Democratic Elections: An NDI Handbook for Citizen Organizations, June 30, 2002
• Building Confidence in the Voter Registration Process: An NDI Monitoring Guide for Political Parties and Civic Organizations, Nov. 29, 2001
• Promoting Religious Freedom during the Campaign against Terrorism, congressional testimony, Nov. 27, 2001
• OSCE Human Dimension Seminar on Election Processes, opening remarks, May 29, 2001
• The Prospects for Free and Fair Elections in Peru, congressional testimony, March 14, 2001
• Zimbabwe: Democracy on the Line, congressional testimony, June 13, 2000