Day of Democracy 2025: A Celebration of Citizen Observers

 2025 Madeleine K. Albright Democracy Awards 

At a time when democratic norms face mounting pressure around the world, citizen election observers continue to demonstrate the extraordinary power of ordinary people to defend freedom, fairness and accountability.

During its 2025 Day of Democracy celebration, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) honored two such champions—Chisankho Watch of Malawi and Ms. Nino Dolidze of Georgia—with the Madeleine K. Albright Democracy Award, the Institute’s highest honor. The full-day celebration also featured a panel on the global state of citizen election observation, highlighting lessons from recent elections and the urgent need to protect those who safeguard transparency and public trust.

Chisankho Watch: Safeguarding Votes and Ensuring a Peaceful Transfer of Power in Malawi

Chisankho Watch volunteers 

In Malawi, the citizen-observer coalition Chisankho Watch played a pivotal role in strengthening public confidence, enhancing transparency and laying the groundwork for a peaceful transfer of power during the 2025 general elections. Through nationwide civic education and the deployment of observers across the country to monitor the vote and to independently verify election results, the coalition helped ensure that Malawians’ voices were heard and respected.

While presenting the award, U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks emphasized how Chisankho Watch’s leadership reinforced institutional stability and legitimacy at a defining moment, and how NDI’s global partnerships help build the bulwarks that form the first line of defense for democracies everywhere. 

“NDI’s mission has never been more essential,” he said. “That kind of grassroots civic engagement is indispensable, particularly at a time when democratic institutions and the rule of law face unprecedented attacks.”

Chisankho Watch dedicated the honor to the Malawian people, whose commitment to peace, fairness, and democratic accountability allowed the country to navigate a tense political environment with unity and resolve. Their example showed that upholding democratic norms is not just the responsibility of institutions—it is a shared endeavor anchored in citizen action.

Championing Election Integrity in Georgia: Nino Dolidze’s Courageous Leadership

In Georgia, where democratic institutions confront sustained political tension and civic space is under threat, Ms. Nino Dolidze has stood firmly for honesty, accountability, and the right of citizens to shape their future. As Executive Director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), she led two nationwide election observation missions grounded in rigorous methodology and provided critical, evidence-based analysis of electoral and legislative developments shaping Georgia’s democracy.

Nino Dolidze

Presented by Naz Durakoglu, representing U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the award recognized not only Ms. Dolidze’s technical contributions but also her unwavering commitment. Despite harassment and political pressure, she chose integrity over intimidation, reinforcing a universal message: democratic progress depends on people willing to speak out and stand up.

Accepting the award, Ms. Dolidze dedicated it to the people of Georgia and to defenders of democracy everywhere. She reminded the audience that “democracy is not guaranteed. It is built every day by ordinary people who make extraordinary choices to speak out, to participate, to resist, to hope,” and that Georgia’s struggle is not isolated but part of a broader fight for human rights, security, and the future stability of democratic systems worldwide. Her call for solidarity underscored a central democratic value: representation is meaningful only when citizens are empowered and protected.

A Global Moment to Reflect on Observers’ Contributions

As part of its Day of Democracy celebration, NDI also convened the panel “Defending Democracy: The Power of Citizen Election Observers,” gathering practitioners from across regions to share lessons from recent elections and explore strategies to strengthen democratic resilience. The discussion came at a pivotal moment, as the international community prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (DoP)—the landmark framework affirming the indispensable role of impartial, professional observation in safeguarding credible elections.

Panelists reflected on the concrete impact citizen observers have had in their own countries—exposing irregularities, strengthening public trust, and promoting transparency—and emphasized that rigorous methodology and evidence-based reporting remain essential. They also highlighted the responsibility of observers to speak truth to power, even in polarized or high-stakes environments where doing so carries significant personal and organizational risk.

Panel “Defending Democracy: The Power of Citizen Election Observers”

A recurring theme was the escalating pressure monitoring organizations face. Participants described increasingly sophisticated attempts to restrict, discredit, or silence observers in both closing civic spaces and long-established democracies. These challenges range from denial of accreditation and limited access to information to harassment, intimidation, targeted disinformation, and, in some cases, arbitrary detention or violence.

“Security protocols for observers, access to legal defense networks, and robust digital-security tools are now essential. Observation today is not only about ensuring the votes are counted correctly, but also about protecting the conditions that allow observers to do their work,” said Walter Corzo of MOE-Gt (Guatemala).

Sustaining this work over time was another critical point. Paul Chulu of Chisankho Watch stressed the need for long-term support and timely funding that allow organizations to remain active throughout the entire electoral cycle. “Elections 2025 are done. Now we look ahead to 2030. It is imperative that the team remain active and relevant so that, come 2030, we aren’t starting from scratch. The team must sustain itself by participating in the reform process and engaging with similar groups in the region and around the world.”

Despite these risks, panelists agreed that citizen observers continue to stand on the front lines of fairness, accountability, and representation. In an era of accelerating democratic backsliding, their contributions are more vital than ever. Their work ensures that citizens’ voices are protected, that results reflect the popular will, and that institutions remain accountable to the people they serve.

Working for Democracy and Making Democracy Work

NDI’s 2025 Day of Democracy convened policymakers, civil society leaders, activists and private-sector partners around a shared conviction: democracy endures when individuals, institutions and communities work together to protect it.

Through its recognition of Ms. Dolidze and Chisankho Watch, and its dedication to strengthening citizen-observer efforts worldwide, NDI reaffirmed a core commitment: to stand with people in every region who are fighting for their right to choose their leaders freely and ensure their voices shape their nation’s future.

Together, these stories remind us that democratic progress is built by people who refuse to be silent in the face of pressure, who organize to hold power accountable and who insist that every voice matters. As NDI looks ahead, it remains committed to partnering with those who defend these principles every day, working for democracy and making democracy work.