2023-2024 Seminar and Conference Series
2023-2024 Seminar and Conference Series
The Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy, in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the Office of the Electoral Commissioner Mauritius held a series of online seminars and personal attendance conferences over 2023-2024. Full details of the programme can be found here. Background reading can be found here.
Summary of Programme
The seminar and conferences reflected on the role of Electoral Commissions in defending the very foundations of democracy and good governance in these challenging times. The aim over the 12 months was to address some of the current challenges to managing fair, free, and above all trusted, elections. Topics included the growing role of social media; disinformation; misinformation and ‘fake news’; misuse of state resources, including state-controlled media; restrictions on campaigning; abuse of the role of the judiciary; and pressure on election management bodies. The three ‘events’ complemented one another and summaries of the discussions are linked below for each event.
Online Seminar – Wednesday 25th October 2023 (3 hours)
This online seminar discussed key aspects of the challenges which Election Commissions face and focused on possible responses to them. Presentations can be found here: Dr Faisal S. Hazis. A summary of discussions can be found here.
In-Person Conference (2 days) - Mauritius – Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th April, 2024
2024 marks the 65th anniversary of the Electoral Commission of Mauritius. The Mauritius Electoral Commission, in collaboration with IFES and the Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy, hosted an in-person regional conference focussing on the challenges affecting Election Commissions, particularly in Africa. The conference programme and summary of discussions can be found here.
Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy - Cambridge UK - Thursday 18th Friday 19th July, 2024
The in-person conference explored issues that have arisen in the past few years for many Electoral Commissions and the recent initiatives they have taken to strengthen their management of elections, including electoral reforms, modernisation, voter education and participation, international co-operation and the sharing of good practice among Commissions.
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