Political corruption and the abuse of state resources can undermine the core principles of electoral integrity, subverting equal electoral competition and the will of voters. Through systematic monitoring of the abuse of state resources, citizen monitors can promote accountability for such abuses and seek to prevent them altogether.
On October 17, 2021, Kosovo’s voters went to the polls for the fourth local election in 13 years since independence in 2008. The vote elected the mayors and members of assemblies in 38 municipalities, with the post of mayor changing parties in thirteen municipalities. The Self Determination Movement (LVV) did not capitalize on its support gained in the parliamentary elections in February 2021. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won the most mayoral posts and seats in the local assemblies, reversing their decline seen in the February elections.
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)
ELECTION OBSERVATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Summary
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is seeking local civil society organizations in Papua New Guinea to recruit, train, and deploy citizen observers for the 2022 General Elections to monitor the electoral process, including election day, to increase citizen engagement and oversight in the electoral process.
Over the past 15 to 20 years, Georgia has faced widespread disinformation and propaganda campaigns, many of which began long before the issue came to the fore globally. The impact of these disinformation campaigns multiplied as Georgia’s rates of internet penetration doubled between 2013 and 2020. And the impacts increased, even more, when campaigns moved more online during the COVID-19 pandemic. A vibrant civil society has been exploring the effects and patterns of disinformation since 2015, with an emphasis on anti-democratic, anti-EU and anti-NATO narratives.
December 10, 2021
On Saturday, December 4, 2021, The Gambia held its first presidential election since its democratic transition from authoritarian rule in 2017. To ensure the public was informed about election preparations and to build confidence in the election process, NDI supported the country’s first long term citizen election observation group, Peace Ambassadors - The Gambia (PAG), to systematically observe and report on the pre-election and election period.
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has released the results of its latest national survey in Ukraine. According to the study, completed in July - August 2021, Ukrainians remain united in their desire for the country's democratic future. Although the overall mood in the country is less optimistic compared to previous waves, people in Ukraine are still politically engaged and are willing to provide their input to the government.
Political parties should play key roles in democratic governance by representing citizens and aggregating their concerns into policy, and by vetting, selecting and influencing political leaders. However, corruption, state capture, populism and opaque party organizations undermine public confidence in parties around the world, fueling political instability.