The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

From left to right: Sergio Bitar, Frank Greer, Kenneth Wollack, Genaro Arriagada. Photo by Joy Asico. Chile’s 1988 plebiscite — in which citizens voted to end the dictatorial rule of General Augusto Pinochet — was a pivotal event in that nation’s history, as well as in the history of democracy around the world.

Author:  National Democratic Institute Publisher:  National Democratic Institute Published Date:  03/22/2013 Resource Type:  Press Release Language:  English TIRANA – While Albania has significantly improved its electoral framework, the success of June’s parliamentary polls will depend on how well political polarization and manipulation of the process are held in check, according to the findings of a National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission released here today. TIRANA – While Albania has significantly improved its electoral framework, the success of June’s parliamentary polls will depend on how well political polarization and manipulation of the process are held in check, according to the findings of a National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission released here today.

While Albania has significantly improved its electoral framework, the success of June’s parliamentary polls will depend on how well political polarization and manipulation of the process are held in check, according to the findings of a National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission released in Tirana today.

Author:  National Democratic Institute Publisher:  National Democratic Institute Published Date:  03/22/2013 Resource Type:  Statement Language:  English

Source:  Christian Science Monitor Article Link:  Read More Published Date:  03/14/2013 Cole Blockenfeld, director of advocacy at the Project on Middle East Democracy, argues that reforms instituted for Jordan’s Jan. 2013 parliamentary elections were “only minor technical and administrative improvements to the voting process” rather than fundamental reforms that require the monarchy to share power. According to Blockenfeld, who participated in an NDI election observation delegation, too much praise from the U.S.

Legislative elections are fast approaching in Guinea and political tensions are on the rise. The anticipated May 12 polls will mark the West African country’s first competitive legislative elections, and there is increasing mistrust and suspicion between ruling and opposition parties.  In the past week, politically motivated riots have broken out in the capital, Conakry, leaving many people wounded and several dead.

Author:  Election Observation Group (ELOG) Kenya Publisher:  ELOG Published Date:  03/09/2013 Resource Type:  Statement Language:  English The official election results are consistent with ELOG Kenya's paralle vote tabulation (PVT). An ELOG observer texts his report in. According to its statement on the parallel vote tabulation and observation of the voting process in Kenya, ELOG is confident that the election day process has been generally credible. It calls on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to immediately make public any information relevant and material to the results as announced. More specifically, ELOG calls on the IEBC to make public the individual results from all polling streams.

Source:  Foreign Policy Article Link:  Read More Published Date:  03/01/2013 You can’t have a democracy without elections, but that does not mean that all elections are democratic. Authoritarian regimes often use elections as a way to claim legitimacy, rather than to actually further democracy. Elections matter, says Foreign Policy’s Jeffrey Gedmin. He argues that Iran is an example of a country which claims to have a democratically elected government, even as its government uses tactics like monitoring the population, barring international media, and restricting access to the Internet and mobile phones to stifle protests.