A special contribution of SG to the Municipal Administrative News Agency: International Election Observation: The Primary Tool for Democracy Promotion (Eng/Kor 시정일보) |
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Last updated 2024-03-04 |
International Election Observation: The Primary Tool for Democracy Promotion Elections stand as the cornerstone of democratic nations, transcending boarders to become a global concern. International election observers play a pivotal role in advancing democracy by ensuring the integrity and transparency of electoral processes. The role of international election observers extends beyond ensuring the fairness, legitimacy, and reliability of election procedures and results. The activities of the International Election Observation Mission draw the attention of international community and foster collaborative efforts to address challenges related to elections - an indispensable element of democracy.
The
Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), founded in 2013, has been
instrumental in this critical international election observation endeavor. Comprising 121 election management bodies (EMBs) from 111 countries
worldwide, A-WEB forms a multinational network of observer groups dedicated to
international election monitoring. In 2023,
A-WEB Election Observation Mission, composed of election experts from EMBs of
diverse countries, was deployed to six Latin American regions, including
Colombia.
Notably,
for the Colombian territorial elections held on October 29 of that year, A-WEB
deployed an international election observation mission comprising experts from
eight countries. Beginning with a briefing on Colombia's electoral system the
day before the election, the observer group monitored the entire electoral
process, from opening polls to vote counting.
Following
the conclusion of the election observation, discussions took place regarding
the improvement of Colombia’s electoral system. Recommendations from various
experts around the world, totaling 11 items, were submitted to Colombia's EMBs.
These recommendations addressed not only electoral systems but also encompassed
electoral environments and cultures.
Furthermore,
efforts to enhance the transparency of the electoral process and promote voter
convenience have been observed in various countries. For instance, in the
Philippine Basic Organization Election (BSKE) last year, electronic voting was
piloted with plans to fully implement electronic voting by 2026. Additionally,
the Commission on Elections of the Philippines (COMELEC) established polling
stations in shopping malls to enhance voter convenience.
Even in
the early months of 2024, dubbed the 'super election year,' A-WEB has
dispatched experts to observe significant elections, such as Taiwan's
presidential election and Indonesia's concurrent elections, which was described
as the 'world's largest one-day election.' A-WEB also has operated
international election observation missions during El Salvador's simultaneous
elections.
While electoral
practices may differ across nations, a common trend is the active pursuit of
ensuring voting rights for social minorities. Taiwan aids illiterate voters by
incorporating candidate photos on ballots, Indonesia has removed past
restrictions on voting for people with mental disabilities, and El Salvador has
introduced a device enabling LGBTQ individuals to exercise their voting rights,
regardless of differences in gender expressions and electoral list gender
entries. These advancements, showcased to the world by international election
observers, exemplify positive change.
A-WEB's strength lies in maximizing the impact of international election observation by sharing diverse aspects, timely information, and effective election management methods within its member organizations' networks. This collaborative approach creates a virtuous cycle, reinforcing democratic values through international cooperation and shared experiences in elections.
Meanwhile, A-WEB will convene an Executive Board meeting comprised of EMBs from about 20 countries in Korea, where its Secretariat is located, in March. At this event, A-WEB will reflect on its past achievements and discuss future directions.
선거는 민주주의 국가의 핵심이다. 또한 선거는 한 나라의 행사일 뿐만 아니라 국제사회에 속한 모든 나라의 일이기도 하다. 어느 국가의 선거든 그 과정과 결과가 오롯이 그 나라에만 영향을 미치는 경우는 드물다. 이렇듯 국제적 행사인 선거의 공정성을 위해 중요한 역할을 담당하는 존재가 있다. 각국의 선거전문가 및 관계자들로 구성된 ‘국제선거참관단’이다. 다른 국가의 선거 과정을 지켜보는 ‘국제선거참관’은 선거 절차의 투명성을 높이고 정당성을 부여하여 민주주의를 증진하는데 중요한 역할을 한다.
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