On Elections

How people elect parliaments

Parliamentary and international organisations

ACE Electoral Knowledge Network: (ACE); a collaborative effort between IDEA, EISA, Elections Canada, the Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico (IFE), IFES, UNDESA, UNDP and the UNEAD. The website provides comprehensive information and advice on electoral processes, including global statistics and data, an encyclopaedia, information on electoral assistance, daily electoral news, an election calendar, and other material.

CSSEAC: Centre for Social Software for Elections, the Allocation of tenders and Coalition/alliance formation; an association of European academics concerned with the study the election systems and the allocation of tenders through the “framework recently introduced by Balinski and Laraki”.

Hansard Society: an British-based independent non-partisan authority on parliaments and democracy, established in 1944 to promote parliamentary democracy worldwide.

Ibrahim Foundation: an INGO concerned with, development and governance issues in Africa. Since 2007 the Foundation has published the Ibrahim Index, a survey of various economic, civil and political development measures of every African nation.

International Foundation for Electoral Systems: (IFES); an international NGO founded in 1987, based in Washington DC. IFES provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies and currently has programs in over 30 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance: (IDEA); an international NGO formally recognised by the UN, based in Stockholm and active in many countries. Activities include democracy building and conflict management, strengthening electoral processes (by adapting electoral systems, improving access and turnout, ensuring professional management and independence and building public confidence), developing political parties, and enhancing political equality and participation. IDEA also publishes data on topics including voter turnout, electoral system design, quotas for women and political finance laws and regulations.

Inter-Parliamentary Union: an international association between parliaments, responsible for conferences and publications including the Parline database, a comprehensive electoral information database (not including actual vote data, but otherwise containing extensive information about each nation’s electoral system) of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters: (JSCEM), a permanent committee of the Parliament of Australia, established by legislation. After each federal election the Committee holds an inquiry, from which the public submissions and reports form a significant body of reform material relevant in Australian electoral affairs.

National Endowment for Democracy: a US NGO. Publishes the Journal of the National Endowment for b.

Venice Commission: a body established by the Council of Europe to assist with constitutional development and institutions of democracy. In 2002 the Commission published guidelines for good practice in regard to redistributions: European Commission for Democracy Through LawCode of Good Practice in Electoral Matters.

Westminster Foundation for Democracy: (WFD); a UK-based public body established in 1992 to promote democratic institutions overseas and “to achieve sustainable political change in emerging democracies”. WFD receives funding from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK Department for International Development.

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