Electoral assistance - reforming electoral legislation and practice

Back International conference on democratic elections in Saint-Petersburg - 14th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies

International conference on democratic elections in Saint-Petersburg - 14th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies

Ways of improving the functioning of electoral administrations was the focus of an international conference taking place in the Tavrichesky Palais, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, on 15-16 May 2017.

More than 120 participants representing about 40 countries and several international institutions, including chairs and members of central electoral commissions and administrations from Europe and beyond, defined measures needed to improve functioning of electoral administrations and exchange good practices advancing efficiency, visibility and interactivity of the electoral management bodies.

This 14th European Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) Conference was organised by the Council of Europe’s constitutional experts body, the Venice Commission; the Central Election Commission of Russia and the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Gianni Buquicchio, President of the Venice Commission; Alexey Sergeev, Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS, and Ella Pamfilova, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, opened the conference. International institutions, including the European Parliament, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the Organization of American States, the Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO), International IDEA and other institutions active in the electoral field also took part in the discussion.

The results of a survey entitled “Improving electoral management: the organisational determinants of electoral integrity” were presented to the Conference. The event participants were adopted a “St Petersburg Declaration” that would invite the EMBs, lawmakers and political parties to improve laws and practices to ensure better functioning of the electoral administrations and thus the conduct of democratic elections.

This activity partially falls in the framework of the Partnership for Good Governance (PGG) for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.

St. Petersburg 23 May 2017
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Specific objective 1: align electoral legislation and its implementation with the principles of the European electoral heritage

Indicators:

  • electoral legislation that meets international standards is adopted;
  • shortcomings in the electoral practice are identified;
  • legislation on elections and/or political parties is amended in conformity with international standards;
  • institutional and operational capacity of election administration to organise electoral process in line with Council of Europe standards is enhanced.

 

Specific objective 2: ensure that electoral practice is compliant with the principles of the European electoral heritage

Indicators:

  • shortcomings in the electoral practice are identified and measures to address them are taken;
  • the institutional set-up and capacity development of electoral management bodies is strengthened;
  • electoral justice is enhanced through better quality of complaints;
  • domestic observation becomes professional and domestic observers fully aware of Council of Europe and other international election standards;
  • civic and voter education is enhanced through increased participation of women, minorities and other disadvantaged groups as voters and candidates;
  • awareness of Council of Europe relevant standards in the areas of democratic elections is increased among the members of Parliaments and parliamentary staff of Eastern Partnership countries. Members of parliaments and parliamentary staff improve their understanding of the amendments to be adopted in the national legislation on elections and political parties.