Examples of questions and answers from the ACE Practitioners’ Network
To view all questions and answers to date, click here
Elections are never a quick fix in post-conflict countries, but rather part of a continuous process on the road towards becoming a fully fledged democracy. There is now an understanding about the importance of developing the capacity of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) so that they are in a strong position to plan and hold credible elections. This emphasis on developing institutional capacity has influenced how development partners approach and design their assistance programmes. So too, one of the most visible consequences of this is the increasing demand from the electoral community to have readily available information and assistance when the need arises.
This is why the ACE Practitioners’ Network was established. It’s an integral part of the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network – the popular online resource for electoral experts. The aim of this global community of electoral practitioners is to generate, share and disseminate specialized knowledge, resources and expertise as a means of promoting the professional and sustainable management and administration of elections. The Network brings together professionals from different countries - with diverse and complementary experience - into the first ever global knowledge network established in the field of elections.
The Practitioners’ Network currently has 160 members from all over the world – and this number is expected to expand considerably in the second half of 2007. Members are experts in all election related fields: from voter education and voter registration, to electoral technologies and electoral dispute regulations. The Practitioners’ Network has only been up and running for a few months, but the members have already received and answered over 50 election-related questions from EMBs, election assistance experts, students, development partners, electoral observers and civil society, ranging from very technical to policy oriented problems.
Elections in Indonesia 2004
The knowledge generated through the interaction of the Practitioners’ Network – answering questions, participating in working groups and online discussions – is available to all ACE users on the publicly accessible “Electoral Advice” site in the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network. Users can also ask on this site for targeted professional advice on how to handle difficult issues facing them in their work with elections.
“The Practitioners’ Network might change how electoral assistance projects are designed and how electoral assistance is delivered on the ground. The possibility of taking into account the opinions and experiences of leading electoral experts at the time projects are being formulated is a fantastic instrument that will benefit the entire process of democratic development”, says Domenico Tuccinardi, Senior Project Manager for the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network at International IDEA.
Said about the ACE Practitioners’ Network:
“The ACE Practitioners’ Network helps to put in perspective some of the issues I have encountered in East Timor. By comparing practices worldwide on franchise for the mentally disabled and for prisoners, the NGO I work for was able to provide a balanced analysis of existing law and push through changes to expand the franchise in Timor.”
User of the ACE Practitioners’ Network, East Timor
Voting in Ethiopia 2005
“I have drawn on the wealth of comparative information provided through ACE to prepare reports for government clients and lecture notes. I have also referred undergraduate and graduate students who work on elections to the ACE site which they have used to write their theses…I enjoy reading questions from the practitioners because they deal with subjects that have not been thoroughly addressed in the academic literature. Thus, I have expanded my knowledge base as a result of my participation in the network.”
Livianna S. Toussutti, a member of the Practitioners’ Network, Associate Professor of Political Science at Brock University, Canada
“I think that the Practitioners' Network and the ACE Workspace offer a great opportunity for election experts to share knowledge, skills and experience. I find the Practitioners’ Network to be a very innovative idea.”
Belinda Musanhu, a full partner and a member of the Practitioners’ Network, EISA - Promoting Credible Elections and Democratic Governance in Africa
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