“Democracy is not one size fits all and it looks different around the world. Because it is so varied and because there is no universally agreed upon definition, it can sometimes seem intangible. Sharing stories of how people around the world engage with democracy, participate in democracy, and exercise democracy can help us understand it more clearly. 

The stories in this month’s IFES Voice help us see what democracy is and why it matters. They show us that democracy does matter to real people living real lives, lives often very different from our own. Democracy stories help us put a face to the concept of democracy. They make it something we can relate to—something we can touch; something we can feel. Most of all, these stories give us hope. Hope to carry on with the often difficult and sometimes demoralizing work that we do, and they give us reason to keep reaching for the tangible evidence that democracy does matter.”  

MORE FROM OUR BANGLADESH PROGRAM

WATCH: Two women students from the University of Dhaka talk about their differences in self-expression and the choice to wear—or not wear—a traditional niqab in SAVE: Students Against Violence Everywhere  

WATCH: In Bangladesh, democracy means more to young people than just voting. See how IFES’s Democracy: From Theory to Practice civic education course at the University of Dhaka is reshaping democratic ideas for students.  

WOMAN-TO-WOMAN: TEACHING POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT TO RURAL WOMEN IN TUNISIA

“Prior to this, many things were beyond my knowledge. The program has been a transformative journey; where once shyness held me back.”
-Gmar, Medenine Governorate 

Through the devoted field work of IFES’s Women Ambassador Program in Tunisia, IFES coordinators reached Gmar, a 62-year-old woman living in rural south-eastern Tunisia. After connecting with one of IFES’s women ambassadors, Gmar was inspired to travel to council meetings and participate in local governance in her region. Gaining self-confidence and expanding her knowledge of politics, Gmar says she “found joy in this newfound awareness.” Since her experience with IFES, Gmar can proudly claim, “I am ready to assert my rights and address matters pertinent to me.”  

LEARN MORE about Gmar’s journey and the IFES’s Women Ambassador Civic Education Program here and explore our IFES Impact YouTube playlist for more stories.

IFES IN THE NEWS

• Dr. Fernanda Buril, Deputy Director of IFES’s Center for Applied Research and Learning, was interviewed by the New York Times about the upcoming elections in Venezuela on July 28th: They Fled Oppression at Home, but It Followed Them Abroad 

• Dr. Magnus Ohman, Director of IFES’s Regional Europe Office and Senior Global Political Finance Advisor was interviewed for an episode of the Internation IDEA’s Democracy IDEAs podcast: Expert talks on Money in Politics: Why does political finance matter?

• CNN World sourced IFES data to create several graphics for a recent article comparing global elections: At least 70 countries have elections in 2024. A guide in maps and charts 

• Reuters published an article using data from IFES’s Election Guide: How this year of elections is set to reshape global politics

• Maximo Zaldivar, IFES’s Regional Director for Latin America & the Caribbean, served as head of delegation of the international election observers for the Mexican presidential election on June 2nd. He was interview by La Economista: The elections in Mexico City were calm and peaceful: international observers

UPCOMING EVENTS

American Democracy in Action! IFES’s 2024 U.S. Election Program begins on Sunday, November 3rd, before Election Day, when our global partners will travel to Washington, D.C. to observe the American Presidential election as it unfolds in real time. The four-day conference event will feature a series of expert panels, tours of polling stations in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and will culminate with a live watch party as results roll on Election night.  

Join Us! The 2024 U.S. Election Program | IFES - The International Foundation for Electoral Systems 

The Voice is a monthly newsletter from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) that keeps you informed about elections worldwide and how IFES is advancing democracy for a better future. Get this newsletter sent directly to your inbox by subscribing here. 

To stay up to date with the latest news and publications from IFES, visit ifes.org.