Elections and Good Governance in Asia-Pacific

Open, transparent elections that support democratic process are a critical element and foundation for good governance in the region.

There is an essential link between democratic and accountable government and the ability to achieve sustained economic and social development...By helping the Governments in developing nations ...to mount free and fair elections themselves, Australia benefits from the emergence of stable and democratic nations...In effect, Australian aid is encouraging greater community participation in the nation's democracy. This promotes accountability, efficiency and effectiveness in the nation's development.

[source: AusAID (2000). Good Governance, page 5.]

In 2010, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) marks 20 years of assistance to overseas countries, helping them to prepare for, plan and conduct elections and referendums, largely funded by AusAID. Their projects have a strong focus on capacity building for sustainable democratic development.

Over the past years we have seen numerous elections across the region where AEC has been actively engaged.  Read more about some examples of recent and current AEC assistance in east Timor, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and with Indigenous communities in Australia.

East Timor

The AEC has had a long history of involvement in democratic processes in East Timor, beginning with the popular consultation in 1999.

The current East Timor Electoral Capacity Building Project aims to build a strong and stable electoral administration capacity in East Timor throughout the electoral cycle, in accordance with internationally recognised best practice.

AEC are undertaking a range of Project activities, including election event training, voter education and information officer's induction training.  They have also delivered a number of BRIDGE workshops (see 'more information' section below).    

BRIDGE Workshop in East Timor, 2009 (see image on right hand side).

Papua New Guinea

Similarly, the AEC's association with the PNG Electoral Commission has been in place over a decade, with a current twinning arrangement in place.

This arrangement helps AEC to develop their counterpart's capacity and help them to deliver effective electoral administration. Part of AEC's skills transfer activities include study tours to the AEC, specifically in the areas of human resources management, election education and awareness and financial management.

Electoral voting in Papua New Guinea, 2002 (see image on right hand side).

Indonesia

In Indonesia the AEC is assisting the Indonesian electoral management body (KPU) with the development of election manuals. With approximately 200 local elections in Indonesia in 2010, the AEC is providing valuable assistance.

For the first time manuals developed by AEC with KPU staff will be used by National and Provincial elections staff at a local election on 7 April 2010.  The KPU and AEC facilitated public consultation with electoral stakeholders such as academics, politics students, and Non-Government Organisation staff in order to develop the content and design of the manuals.

The AEC are currently working on an intranet site for information sharing amongst the 33 regional offices of the KPU.

Indigenous Australia

The AEC is designing and establishing a comprehensive program to address the wide discrepancy between Indigenous and non-indigenous electors in Australia. The Indigenous Electoral Participation Program (IEPP) has been established as part of the Government's "Closing the Gap" initiative.  It will operate Australia wide, in remote, rural and urban communities.

The program has four objectives:
1.    To increase levels of knowledge of democratic and electoral processes;
2.    To increase levels of enrolment;
3.    To increase levels of participation in democratic and electoral processes; and
4.    To decrease levels of informal voting.

An extensive consultation period began in June 2009.  While full implementation of the program will begin around July 2010, a number of initiatives have already begun.

For more information:

Learn more about the Australian Electoral Commission - http://www.aec.gov.au/

Of interest:

• The AEC also hosts the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators (PIANZEA) Network Secretariat
  
• The AEC has also developed a course that focuses on electoral processes call Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE)

• Published: January 2010
• Source: Australian Electoral Commission
• Added to ADG on: 03 February 2010 , contributed by: Australian Electoral Commission
• The above links take you to an external site - see our disclaimer.