Democracy IDEAs

Calls to enfranchise people as young as sixteen are growing around the world, with some countries already adjusting the vote to align with the national age of employment, taxation, and military service. 

In Australia, common consensus is lagging but some experts believe it is only a matter of time. From the sidelines of the Australian National University’s APSA conference, Billie Phillips spoke to Professor Lisa Hill about the growing movement.

Guest: Professor Lisa Hill, University of Adelaide

Owen Gaffney talks to International IDEA's Head of Communications, Alistair Scrutton about  climate change, sustainability and the future of our planet, joining a lot of dotted lines between politics, technology and science.

Owen Gaffney is a writer, editor, and global sustainability analyst, co-author of the recently-published Earth For All: A Survival Guide for Humanity. He has formerly worked for the Stockholm Resilience Centre and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and has advised on BBC and Netflix series including EarthShot (2021) and Our Planet. As well as academic publications, he writes and edits articles, features, and speeches, and has produced for TED, World Economic Forum, and WWF.

Recommended reading:

• Earth For All: A Survival Guide for Humanity
• Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet

The storming of Brazil’s Congress and Supreme Court as well as the deadly anti-government protests in Peru underline the challenges facing democracy in Latin America. Why are the legitimacy of governments being questioned? What is behind the increasing political polarization of the region? And are their grounds anywhere for optimism? 

International IDEA's Head of Communications and Knowledge Management, Alistair Scrutton , talks to Kevin Casas Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA.

In this episode of Peer-to-Peer, we speak with David Towriss and Atsuko Hirakawa to learn more about compounding crises, and the effect of a Richter Scale-7 earthquake on an already vulnerable Haiti, Hurricane Tomas, and a cholera outbreak in Haiti and their postponed elections in 2010. This conversation is based on International IDEA’s case study but also Atsuko’s experience and knowledge on how Haiti’s election administrators implemented their 2016 elections after Hurricane Matthew.  

Guests: 

• David Towriss was previously a Research Assistant in the Electoral Processes Team at International IDEA and is currently an Associate Programme Officer at the Democracy Assessment Unit. 
• Atsuko Hirakawa is a Programme Officer at the Democracy Assessment Unit with previous experience in governance and electoral assistance, having worked in Port-au-Prince as a technical specialist for UNDP. 

Hosts: Heidi Park and Erik Asplund  

Background Reading: 

• The Impact of Natural Hazards on Haiti’s 2010 Presidential and Legislative Elections 
• Democracy Tracker – Haiti 
• Global State of Democracy Report 2022: Forging Social Contracts in a Time of Discontent 
• How hurricanes threaten U.S. elections and why more flexible voting is needed 
• Hurricane Matthew forces postponement of Haiti presidential elections 
• The Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections 

In this episode of Peer-to-Peer, we speak to Miguel de Brito and Domingos de Rosaria about cyclones Idai and Kenneth and their impact on Mozambique’s 2019 Presidential, Legislative and Provincial elections. This was the first time in recorded history that two strong tropical cyclones hit Mozambique during the same season. This conversation is based on International IDEA’s case study on how the two cyclones devastated the country and specifically how it impacted the electoral process, as well as a discussion on how the electoral commission can be better prepared for the upcoming 2024 elections.  

Guests: Miguel de Brito has been International IDEA’s Head of Programme for Mozambique since 2019 and has 20 years of experience in the field of political governance. Domingos de Rosaria is a senior lecturer at the Eduardo Mondlane University, and a senior researcher at the Centro de Estudos Urbanos de Moçambique.  

HOSTS: Heidi Park and Erik Asplund 

GUESTS: Miguel de Brito and Domingos de Rosaria

International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy 2022 Report has been published. Report Editor and International IDEA's Head of Democracy Assessment, Seema Shah, provides an overview of the findings. Democracy is in decline around the world, undermined by problems ranging from restrictions on freedom of expression to distrust in the legitimacy of elections. This decline comes as elected leaders face unprecedented challenges from Russia’s war in Ukraine, cost of living crises, a looming global recession and climate change. But Seema also finds some grounds for optimism.

In our first episode of the new season of Peer-to-Peer, we speak with Sarah Birch and Jeff Fischer to learn more about the effect of wildfires on elections in California. The conversation is based on an International IDEA case study that focuses on the impact of wildfires on the 2016 and 2018 electoral cycles but also on the steps taken by election administrators to protecting elections. The discussion also centres on the increased vulnerability of the United States and its election cycles to climate change effects. 

Guests: Sarah Birch is a professor of Political Science at King’s College London, Jeff Fischer is a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Democracy and Civil Society as well as a consultant on election administration. 

Hosts: Heidi Park and Erik Asplund 

Background reading: 

Wildfires and Elections in California – Case Study 

Wildfires, Hurricanes, Floods and Earthquakes: How Elections are Impacted by Natural Hazards 

The Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections 

How hurricanes threaten U.S. elections and why more flexible voting is needed 

This season, International IDEA will explore the effects of climate change in the form of extreme weather events, as well as other natural hazards, that cause both slow and rapid onset disasters, on the implementation of elections. Natural hazards can cause elections to be postponed, impact electoral operations, affect campaigns, and voter turnout. With evidence that climate change may cause extreme weather events to become more intense and common, election practitioners must begin to prepare contingency plans and train staff on implementing elections after a disaster. 

Through interviews with academics and practitioners, we will explore different cases where a country was affected by a natural hazard with an election in the horizon that needed to be implemented. Throughout this season, we will explore and consider various questions on how to protect the integrity of elections and continuation of the democratic process after a crisis. What are the common challenges faced by electoral management bodies after the wake of a disaster? How did practitioners adapt to ensure that citizens could vote safely? What type of legal measures and special voting arrangements were put into place to ensure that those who were displaced could send in their ballots? What type of assistance is necessary for protecting the integrity of elections before, during and after a crisis?  

To find more information, please visit our page on natural hazards and elections that includes our dashboard and longer case studies: https://www.idea.int/news-media/multimedia-reports/impact-natural-hazards-elections  

As well as a feature article that investigates the different ways natural hazards are impacting elections: https://www.idea.int/news-media/news/wildfires-hurricanes-floods-and-earthquakes-how-elections-are-impacted-natural 

Across Africa, civil society is using the courts to protect the environment from governments and companies. It is part of a wider campaign for climate justice in the continent that has brought together both elder and younger generations as well as social media. Lawyer and activist Lindlyn Moma has first-hand experience of the transformation happening on the ground.

Guest: Lindlyn Moma, Human Rights Lawyer and Environmental Activist

Against a background of deteriorating informational environments, falling trust in state institutions and growing electoral result disputation, electoral processes and those who administer them are increasingly being placed under the microscope. Ensuring that the integrity of elections withstand such scrutiny and that voters remain informed and engaged falls largely to election trainers and educators, and it is their vital work that is the focus of the first series of Peer-to-Peer, International IDEA’s new elections podcast. 

Through interviews with electoral trainers and educators from around the world, the first series explores how different election commissions tackle the thorny issues affecting their field. How can thousands of temporary poll workers be prepared for election day operations in a short space of time? How can election training be delivered during a pandemic? How can voters be motivated to cast their ballot?

In the first 2022 episode of Peer-to-Peer podcast, hosts Erik Asplund and David Towriss examine how election education and training is conducted under Australia’s federal electoral management system. Their guides are Belinda Bennet, Director of the Australian Electoral Commission’s National Training and Education Unit, and Andrew Hawkey, Electoral Commissioner at the Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 

From Belinda and Andrew we hear how Australia’s federal and state electoral management bodies work together to share innovations and best practice, the importance they place on training and developing their permanent staff and how they engage young voters of tomorrow.

• National Training and Education Unit - Australian Electoral Commission 
• National Electoral Education Centre - Australian Electoral Commission 
• Running Local Elections During the COVID-19 Crisis: Queensland, Australia

Against a background of deteriorating informational environments, falling trust in state institutions and growing electoral result disputation, electoral processes and those who administer them are increasingly being placed under the microscope. Ensuring that the integrity of elections withstand such scrutiny and that voters remain informed and engaged falls largely to election trainers and educators, and it is their vital work that is the focus of the first series of Peer-to-Peer, International IDEA’s new elections podcast. 

Through interviews with electoral trainers and educators from around the world, the first series explores how different election commissions tackle the thorny issues affecting their field. How can thousands of temporary poll workers be prepared for election day operations in a short space of time? How can election training be delivered during a pandemic? How can voters be motivated to cast their ballot? 

In episode #4 of Peer-to-Peer we take a deep dive into electoral training in Nigeria during the Covid-19 pandemic. With Ibrahim Sani, Director of Research at the Independent National Election Commission of Nigeria (INEC), David Towriss discusses the issues INEC had to address when early in the pandemic it prepared for gubernatorial elections in two of its states. 

What new responsibilities would poll workers have to assume? What changes would have to be made to the training curricula? How would the delivery of training have to change?

Ibrahim explains how INEC answered these questions and shares its experience of implementing those solutions.   

• Nigerian State Elections during the Covid-19 Pandemic: https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/nigerian-state-elections-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-en.pdf 
• Electoral Training and Education: The Case of the Electoral Institute in Nigeria: https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/multimedia_reports/electoral-training-and-education-the-case-of-the-electoral-institute-in-nigeria-case-en.pdf 

Against a background of deteriorating informational environments, falling trust in state institutions and growing electoral result disputation, electoral processes and those who administer them are increasingly being placed under the microscope. Ensuring that the integrity of elections withstand such scrutiny and that voters remain informed and engaged falls largely to election trainers and educators, and it is their vital work that is the focus of the first series of Peer-to-Peer, International IDEA’s new elections podcast. 

Through interviews with electoral trainers and educators from around the world, the first series explores how different election commissions tackle the thorny issues affecting their field. How can thousands of temporary poll workers be prepared for election day operations in a short space of time? How can election training be delivered during a pandemic? How can voters be motivated to cast their ballot?  

At Peer-to-Peer episode #3, Erik Asplund and David Towriss explore the pioneering electoral training education carried out by the Association of Electoral Administrators within UK’s decentralized system of election administration.

In conversation with the Association’s Chief Executive Peter Stanyon, they learn how this independent, membership-based organization provides training support to the electoral officers at the heart of UK electoral administration and how their professional electoral administration qualification has become a staple across the country. Peter also reflects on the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had upon the Association’s training delivery in the lead up to the UK’s local elections in May 2021.               

More information on the Association of Electoral Administrators: https://www.aea-elections.co.uk/

Against a background of deteriorating informational environments, falling trust in state institutions and growing electoral result disputation, electoral processes and those who administer them are increasingly being placed under the microscope. Ensuring that the integrity of elections withstand such scrutiny and that voters remain informed and engaged falls largely to election trainers and educators, and it is their vital work that is the focus of the first series of Peer-to-Peer, International IDEA’s new elections podcast.

Through interviews with electoral trainers and educators from around the world, the first series explores how different election commissions tackle the thorny issues affecting their field. How can thousands of temporary poll workers be prepared for election day operations in a short space of time? How can election training be delivered during a pandemic? How can voters be motivated to cast their ballot?

In episode #2 of Peer-to-Peer, Erik Asplund and David Towriss are guided through electoral education and training in Moldova by the Director of the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training, Doina Bordeianu and her predecessor in that role, Natalia Iuras. 

Doina and Natalia talk about the growing importance of e-learning and what they have done to overcome the interactive challenges that this form of training delivery poses. They also share some of the innovative civic education programmes that the Centre has developed ahead of the 2021 Parliamentary elections and explain why this part of it’s mandate is so important.       

Against a background of deteriorating informational environments, falling trust in state institutions and growing electoral result disputation, electoral processes and those who administer them are increasingly being placed under the microscope. 

Ensuring that the integrity of elections withstand such scrutiny and that voters remain informed and engaged falls largely to election trainers and educators, and it is their vital work that is the focus of Peer-to-Peer, International IDEA’s new elections podcast series. 

Through interviews with electoral trainers and educators from around the world, the series explores how different election commissions tackle the thorny issues affecting their field. 

How can thousands of temporary poll workers be prepared for election day operations in a short space of time? How can election training be delivered during a pandemic? How can voters be motivated to cast their ballot?

In episode #1 of Peer-to-Peer, Erik Asplund and David Towriss spoke to Maria Pilar Biggio Pastor about her work as the Training and Education Manager in Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE). 

Their conversation took place shortly after the conclusion of Peru’s 2021 general elections and Maria shared her insights into how ONPE dealt with the challenges posed by a large temporary work force of over half a million, a linguistically diverse electorate and a high national Covid-19 death rate.     

Hosts: Erik Asplund, Programme Officer in International IDEA's Electoral Processes Programme & David Towriss, Research Assistant at International IDEA

Guest: Maria Pilar Biggio Pastor, Training and Education Manager in Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE)

For more information on ONPE and in particular the Information and Electoral Education Unit please see International IDEA case study authored by María del Pilar Biggio Pastor.

For more information on training, education and research in electoral administration in general please visit International IDEA project page.

Gender inequalities and marginalisation of segments of societies remain a persistent challenge in democracy building across all regions of the world. What measures have been taken to promote gender equality in democracy building processes—on political participation and representation (political parties, parliaments, local government councils), constitution building, electoral processes? What are the pros and cons of gender quotas? What is the largest challenge to gender equality globally?

The Communications Intern of International IDEA for the summer of 2021, Violet Marmur, talks to Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu, International IDEA's Senior Advisor for Democracy and Inclusion.

GUESTS: Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu is International IDEA's Senior Advisor for Democracy and Inclusion.

Climate change is the existential issue of our time. How will it affect how democracies function? Are democracies well placed to deal with the long term challenges presented by rising world temperatures? What will be the impact of climate change on regional security and conflict?

HOST: Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA

GUEST:  Andrew Gilmour, Executive Director of the Berghof Foundation

Across the world, women face challenges to participate in politics, from confronting hate speech to internal party obstacles and lack of subsidized maternity leave. What are the best ways to increase women’s participation in elections and within party politics? What has been the influence of the #MeToo movement?  Is it just about increasing the numbers of women in parliament?

Host: Laura Thornton, International IDEA’s Head of Global Programs

Guest: Birgitta Ohlsson, Sweden’s former EU and Democracy Minister and currently head of National Democratic Institute's program for political parties in Washington

Similar to elections and other democratic processes, the global COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impact on international election observation. In this podcast we discuss the changing nature of international election observation during and beyond the pandemic. Will election observation ever go back to the old normal? How was election observation changing even before the pandemic struck? Is the pandemic changing radically what was done or simply accelerating changes that were already underway?

Host: Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA 

Guests: 

• Gerardo de Icaza, Director of the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, Organisation of American States
• Patrick Costello, Head Of Global 3 Division, Democracy and Electoral Observation, European External Action Service

Mark McDowell, International IDEA's Country Director in Myanmar talks to Parvinder Singh, Senior Programme Manager - Elections at International IDEA Myanmar about his experience providing technical advice to the National Election Commission of Liberia during the elections of 2014, in the shadow of the nation's Ebola pandemic. 

 Host: Mark McDowell, International IDEA's Myanmar Country Director

International IDEA’s Director for Asia and the Pacific Leena Rikkila Tamang spoke with lawyer Janet Pang about Hong Kong’s innovative protest methods in times of COVID-19 and about preparations for the September legislative council elections. 

This podcast was recorded on the eve of China’s legislature passing the security law to cover Hong Kong.

Has the coronavirus, aside from having severe consequences for public health and the economy, also been detrimental for democracy? And if so, should we expect passing side effects or permanent damage? 

In this podcast Dr Staffan I. Lindberg, the Director and Principal Investigator for Varieties of Democracy Institute at the University of Gothenburg and Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, the Secretary-General of International IDEA, are discussing, deliberating and debating about the short and long-term effects of the coronavirus on democracy. 

Host: Adina Trunk, Special Adviser to International IDEA's Secretary-General

International IDEA’s Director of Global Programs Laura Thornton talks to Justin Wein, chief of staff of U.S. Congressman David Price about ways in which their office has adapted in the COVID-19 environment. 

How have they conducted outreach, adjusted their communications strategy, managed casework, and participated in legislative activities and committee meetings? 

Host: Laura Thornton, Director of Global Programs at International IDEA