European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE)

🇬🇪❗️Urgent Call to Action: European and national leaders must defend democracy in Georgia. Since April 15th, Georgians have been protesting against the proposed "Transparency of Foreign Influence" law, echoing Russia's “Foreign Agent Law”. This law threatens to equip the government with tools to suppress civil society and independent media, derailing Georgia from its democratic path towards EU integration. On 2 May, Georgian police violently suppressed peaceful demonstrators using tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, detaining dozens of people. ❗️International human rights organizations, civil society groups, and election observers are urging European and national leaders to promptly address the Georgian government's attempt to crackdown on civil society as the country approaches its General Elections in October. 👉 Read the full statement here: https://lnkd.in/gdd4UJB4 and share this message to raise awareness. European Exchange Political Accountability Foundation Swedish International Liberal Center Norwegian Helsinki Committee Civil Network OPORA Unhack Democracy Asociația Promo-LEX Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor’ Stefan Batory Foundation GNDEM - Global Network for Domestic Election Monitors European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations European Civic Forum  Alliance4Europe AMO - Association for International Affairs Foundation Open Society Institute-Sofia NIMD | Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy Human Rights Without Frontiers International IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims East and Horn of Africa Election Observation Network (E-HORN) West Africa Network of Election Observers - WANEO AfEONet

A big congratulations to our colleagues at the Political Accountability Foundation and their fantastic Board of Directors — Zofia Lutkiewicz, Karol Bijos, and Dr. Anna Frydrych-Depka — on receiving the Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of State! Your hard work in promoting free and fair elections in Poland is truly inspiring. Gratulacje! 💙

I'm thrilled to see the hard work of Team Integrity at European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) gaining widespread attention in France this morning. Our mission is critical: exposing and holding accountable those who promote authoritarianism in Europe. It is particularly concerning when European politicians travel to Russia to observe so-called "elections," effectively legitimizing an autocratic regime. This practice undermines our democratic values and is absolutely unacceptable. Check out the thread if you are concerned about the resurgence of the far-right in France! I am proud to lead these efforts for EPDE and immensely proud of our team's dedication and impact. We will continue to stand against any attempts to erode democracy, ensuring that the voices advocating for freedom and justice are heard loud and clear.

📢 🎥 In light of recent political developments in Georgia, Olga Aivazovska, chair of the board of Civil Network OPORA, spoke with Nino Evgenidze, the director of the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) and Nino Dolidze, executive director of the The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) about the controversial foreign agents law and its implications. ❓ Why did official Tbilisi resort to adopting the scandalous foreign agents law before the parliamentary elections, and will the civil society representatives obey it? ❓ How does society react to steps that actually destroy Georgia’s European perspective? ❓ And is the current government of Georgia afraid of sanctions from Western countries? 🎥 Watch the interview here: https://lnkd.in/dnwMhEN2 👉 More information here: https://lnkd.in/dtwZqAQn The “Power of Choice” is a project of Civil Network OPORA that aims to emphasize the importance of responsible and informed choice for the sustainable development of Ukraine and Ukrainian society.

We aimed to amplify the voices of civil society and provide a platform for NGOs across the EU to cover and analyze the elections from their unique perspectives. The Live Feed section would have remained just an idea without the involvement of our partners, who accepted our invitation to join this project and offered their insights and commentaries throughout the election days. Institutional Partners: Expert Forum (EFOR), Gender Concerns International, European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), Institute for Public Environment Development (IPED), Inter Alia, Political Accountability Foundation, European Exchange, Danes je nov dan, Committee for the Defence of Democracy (Komitet Obrony Demokracji - KOD), Croatian Youth Network MEMO 98, Forum 50% and Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit. Expert Contributors: Maria Krause, Romania, Christoforos Christoforou, Cyprus, Sabra Bano, Netherlands, Dr. Claudiu Tufis, Romania and Dr. Ionela Băluță, Romania. Visit WeVote4.eu and read the latest analysis and comments in real time.

I’m thrilled to be in Romania today, observing the local and European Parliament elections with the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE). We’re here to make sure everything runs smoothly and transparently, and it’s great to see democracy in action up close. We’re using the innovative Vote Monitor app, which has revolutionized election observation in Romania and beyond. Before this app, observations were done with pen and paper, and reports were centralized weeks later. Now, with Vote Monitor, we can upload real-time reports, photos, videos, and audio from polling stations. This allows NGOs to receive immediate updates and respond quickly to any issues or irregularities. Part of the Infrastructure for Good developed by Commit Global, Vote Monitor is a game-changer. It provides a clearer, real-time understanding of the election process. It’s inspiring to see technology enhance our ability to observe elections and safeguard democracy. A special shoutout to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for bringing in Central Asian observers. Their participation adds valuable perspectives to our mission and highlights the importance of international cooperation in promoting democratic values.

🌍 I'm excited to share some early highlights from an ongoing trip to Romania with the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) team. We will be privileged to observe local elections and elections to the European Parliament tomorrow, which ties directly into EPDE's mission to promote transparent and fair elections across Europe. Election observation, particularly by citizens, is the lifeblood of democracy. It ensures transparency and fairness and that international standards are met. Citizen election observation is not just important; it's critical, as it empowers local communities to protect their electoral processes and hold their leaders accountable. In Romania, we have had insightful discussions with the Permanent Electoral Authority. We learned about their strong election security measures and how they're addressing online challenges. This was a fantastic opportunity to see their best practices in action and share ideas on improving elections globally. A huge thank you to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for supporting the participation of observers from Central Asia. Their involvement is making our mission richer and highlighting the value of international cooperation in strengthening democracy. https://lnkd.in/dvjj3MvE

🇵🇱 Our member, Political Accountability Foundation, has published a report on the 2023 parliamentary elections in Poland. The report highlights the impact of early 2023 electoral law changes, campaign dynamics, misuse of public resources, and voting day procedures. 👉 Key findings and full set of recommendations are now available in English: https://lnkd.in/djyBpaKb 👉 For our Polish-speaking audience, see the full report in 🇵🇱 here: https://lnkd.in/dYrp86vx

Ensuring electoral integrity is crucial for the health of democratic governance. At the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), our mission focuses on monitoring and improving election quality and transparency throughout Europe and Eurasia. By addressing unimplemented election-related recommendations and exposing fake observers, we protect the democratic process from manipulation and fraud. Our databases and reports empower citizen observer organizations, uphold the legitimacy of elections, and foster trust in democratic institutions. One of our core activities is identifying and exposing politically biased election observers. These fake "observers" undermine the credibility of genuine electoral processes by legitimizing "elections" and "referenda" in authoritarian regimes, such as Russia or Belarus. Our efforts to reveal their bias and "name and shame" are really important for maintaining the integrity of the institution of elections globally.

We at European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) recently surveyed our members about the role of technology in elections and citizen election observation. The insights highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of integrating technology into the electoral process. From the use of electronic systems for registration and result publication to the ethical implications of AI in campaigns, there's much to consider. Security, transparency, and the future of technological advancements were key themes. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how technology can further enhance electoral integrity and what measures you think are necessary for safeguarding our democratic processes.