Democracy

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We promote democracy through advocacy of democratic principles and practical action to help make them a reality.

At the request of member countries, we send experts who promote democracy and strengthen democratic processes and institutions. Some visits are relatively short. For instance, a media expert may visit for a fortnight to help ensure that in the pre-election period the contesting parties all get their fair share of impartial media coverage. A voter registration expert may advise an election body for a week on best practice in the use of Voter ID cards. Other assignments are much longer: one Commonwealth expert provided election advice to a Commonwealth election management body for a full 18 months leading up to an election. This tailored provision of experts is a growing area of work and we foresee even greater use of this facility by member countries in the future.

The observation of elections is one way in which the Commonwealth Secretariat works to strengthen democracy. Observer Groups are asked to consider the various factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole and to make a judgement whether or not the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which the country has committed itself, making reference to national election-related legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and other international commitments. Each Group's report also contains practical recommendations to help improve electoral arrangements for the future.

Click here for more about the Commonwealth's work on 'Democracy'

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