New Moldovan election law is partly unconstitutional, study shows
A new study by Moldovan EPDE member Promo-Lex shows that the recently approved mixed-member electoral system will have negative consequences on democracy and civil society in that country. The study argues the provision stipulating that a person has to have a domicile in order to exercise his/her right to vote in a single-member constituency is […]
Third Interim Report of the Pre-Election Observation
The Georgian local self-government elections took place on October 21, 2017. the last four weeks before Election Day were marked by a significant increase in cases of intimidation and harassment, mostly of opposition and independent candidates and their supporters, but also of public servants and teachers. ISFED notes that the 23 cases of intimidation identified […]
Fake observation at Russian elections: Golos portraits the “electoral tourists”
According to the Central Election Commission of Russia, 774 international observers from 63 countries were accredited in Russia for the 2016 State Duma elections. There were no official international observers at the September 10, 2017 elections, but election commissions and media reported about a group of foreigners who came to Russia with the informal status […]
“Electoral tourists” from abroad: Who are they?
There were no official international observers at the September 10, 2017 elections, but election commissions and media reported about a group of foreigners who came to Russia with the informal status of “foreign experts.” Despite the fact that they had no official status of international/foreign observers, and, according to Russian law, could not be present […]
HCA Vanadzor report finds lack of implementation of recommendations
In Armenia, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor analyzed the recommendations by international election observers and their implementation in the 2017 National Assembly and Yerevan City Council Elections. According to the report, the current Electoral Code includes several recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR, yet many of these have not been properly adopted. The lack of open discussions during the […]
Reflection of recommendations by international election observation missions in the RA 2016 electoral code and their implementation during 2017 National Assembly and Yerevan City Council Elections
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor analyzed the recommendations by international election observers and their implementation. According to the report, the current Electoral Code includes several recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR, yet many of these have not been properly adopted. The lack of open discussions during the drafting of the code was unfortunate. The recent elections showed that many […]
Georgia keeps controversial mixed voting system
On September 26, the Parliament of Georgia passed constitutional changes affecting the electoral system. Despite heavy protests by the opposition, civil society, and the Venice Commission, the mixed voting system will not be abolished until 2020. Votes for parties that fail to pass the electoral threshold will be transferred to the winning party, thus weakening […]
EPDE Policy Alert – Electoral Reform In Ukraine #1
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) monitors the progress of electoral reform in Ukraine. The first issue of the “EPDE Policy Alert – Electoral Reform in Ukraine” analyzes reasons for the prevailing reform fatigue among Ukraine’s government officials and lawmakers and gives insight into possible scenarios for the time to come. On September 5, […]
Electoral Reform in Ukraine #1
Electoral reform is currently not on the agenda of the Ukrainian Parliament. However, with the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2019, the Parliament should start to discuss the already existing draft laws on parliamentary elections and the Elections Code right now. Even though reform of the electoral law and introduction of a proportional electoral system […]
Golos criticizes the report of the Presidential Council on regional elections
In Russia, EPDE member GOLOS has criticized a draft report by the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights on the regional elections of September 10. The draft report includes a number of controversial recommendations for the future, such as limiting video monitoring and granting observer status only to members of the Presidential Council […]