Launch Event: Special Voting Arrangements Handbook
Channel: International IDEA
Date: 16/11/2023

Join International IDEA's North America Programme on 15 November 2023 for a launch event in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the publication of Special Voting Arrangements (SVA): The International IDEA Handbook. This comprehensive reference document explores good practices in the implementation of alternative voting methods around the world, including in the United States. SVAs make voting more convenient for various groups, including those away from their communities on election day, individuals who face difficulties reaching polling stations, and others who face a variety of challenges to their effective participation in the electoral process.

International IDEA first initiated the SVAs Handbook during the pandemic as electoral administrators, governments and other stakeholders sought to deliver electoral processes in a manner that complied with national law to impede the contagion of the virus. SVAs can make electoral more convenient for many voters, such as those away from their locality on election day and those who have difficulty reaching a polling station or voting conventionally. Those incarcerated, hospitalized or on official duty away from polling places on election day often rely on SVAs in cases where such arrangements are made available. Beyond these special categories, SVAs such as advance voting can broadly support political participation and inclusion by making voting processes more convenient and accessible.  

The SVA Handbook illustrates how these processes serve voters, how SVAs relate to international norms, and under what circumstances SVAs may fall short of upholding voting rights. The Handbook examines and provides examples of different types of SVAs and highlights their comparative strengths and weaknesses. It also explores how SVAs relate to international standards and best practices, exploring under what circumstances the design and implementation of SVAs may not fully ensure the protection of voting rights and the voting process.

Join us for this interesting discussion with leading experts from International IDEA, IFES, the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, the U.S. Postal Service and others on 15 November 2023.

Speakers:

Peter Wolf, Senior Advisor, Elections and ICTs, International IDEA
Amber F. McReynolds, Governor, United States Postal Service
David Levine, Senior Elections Integrity Fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy
Dr Staffan Darnolf, Senior Global Advisor, Electoral Operations and Administration, IFES
(Moderator) Dr Annika Silva-Leander, Head of North America and Permanent Observer to the United Nations, International IDEA

Agenda:
* 4:00 pm: Opening by Annika Silva-Leander, Head of North America and Permanent Observer to the United Nations for International IDEA.
* 4:10-4:30 pm: Overview of key findings of SVA Handbook by Peter Wolf, Chief Author and Senior Electoral Processes Advisor for International IDEA.
* 4:30-5:00 pm: Panel Discussion 
* 5:00-5:30 pm: Q&A Session