Open Society Foundations WHO WE ARE HOW WE WORK WHAT WE DO DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE The Open Society Foundations support efforts to engage citizens not just in voting, but in ensuring that governments respond to the challenges of the day and the needs of all their people. $235.9M 2020 EXPENDITURES FOR DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE 23.6% PERCENTAGE OF GLOBAL EXPENDITURES 30.6% AVERAGE ANNUAL CHANGE IN EXPENDITURES SINCE 2016 Explore our full expenditures by theme and region OUR WORK The simple act of voting has often been contested—in some countries, now more than ever amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to protecting voter rights and addressing issues of campaign finance and electoral reform, we support groups that monitor government action and promote transparency and accountability as a check on corruption and abuse in the democratic process. A presiding officer and a poll clerk drink a cup of tea while waiting for early morning voters at a polling station near Oxford, United Kingdom, on June 23, 2016. © Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Election Support National election observers in their "situation room" in Freetown, Liberia, on November 16, 2012. © Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Monitoring work by NGOs and civil society groups can play an important role in preventing electoral fraud and manipulation in countries where democratic institutions remain weak. The Open Society Initiative for West Africa has developed an internet-based election observation platform called the Election Situation Room. It pools independent reporting by monitors during voting, helping electoral officials to respond to emerging issues before they become critical. The model has been successfully piloted during elections in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, and Nigeria. Why the European Parliament Elections Matter EXPLAINER Voting Rights A woman waits in line to vote, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 2020. © Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Open Society-U.S. supports a range of groups working on protecting voting rights, including supporting efforts to promote voting by mail and safe access to the polls during the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocating for minority voters who have been targeted by partisan gerrymandering. In January 2018, for instance, a federal court agreed with one of our grantees, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, that the state’s most recent electoral map was drawn to prevent non-Republican voters—in this case, often African American voters—from being able to meaningfully affect political outcomes, in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Transparency and Freedom of Information People hand out leaflets and listen to speeches at a housing rights demonstration in London, United Kingdom, on May 1, 2018. © Peter Marshall/ZUMA/Newscom Access to information reinforces the ability of citizens to hold their governments to account, and to combat corruption. The Open Society Foundations have supported the passage of right to information laws in over 50 countries since the 1990s by providing technical and legal advice. We have also actively supported efforts to establish the institutional machinery that is needed to deliver an effective response to freedom of information requests from the public—developing resources for judges, information commissioners, and civil society groups to help ensure that the public’s questions are answered. Community Engagement From Kazakhstan to the Balkans, our foundations support local groups that engage people in local decision-making that affects their quality of life—on issues such as promoting education, planning new bus routes, and protecting local parks and green spaces. Children at a playground in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on October 6, 2018. © Savostyanov Sergei/TASS/Newscom READ MORE UNDAUNTED Carnage and Triumph: American Democracy on the Spot Overnight we have watched astonishing scenes as hundreds of thugs incited by a criminal president invaded a country’s legislative chambers and caused mayhem and death in an effort to overturn the result of a democratic election. JANUARY 7, 2021 | MARK MALLOCH-BROWN A VICTORY FOR CIVIL SOCIETY European Union Court Rejects Hungarian NGO Funding Law A ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union has affirmed the vital role of civil society in democratic governance. JUNE 18, 2020 | NATACHA KAZATCHKINE & KERSTY MCCOURT FACT SHEET How the Open Society Foundations Support Election Integrity All over the world, Open Society is backing nonpartisan efforts to make sure that elections are safe, secure, transparent, fair, and inclusive. MARCH 18, 2020 Read more from this theme: Democratic Practice Subscribe to updates about Open Society’s work around the world By entering your email address and clicking “Submit,” you agree to receive updates from the Open Society Foundations about our work. To learn more about how we use and protect your personal data, please view our privacy policy. VOICES Read the latest from our staff, grantees, and partners about how we’re working around the world to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. Learn more HOW WE FUND Every year the Open Society Foundations give thousands of grants to groups and individuals that work on the issues we focus on—promoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate. Learn more WHO WE ARE Our History George Soros Leadership Financials Policies Programs Offices and Foundations HOW WE WORK How We Fund Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships Awarded Grants WHAT WE DO Where We Work Themes Events Newsroom Publications Employment Contact Us © 2021 Open Society Foundations, some rights reserved. Terms and Conditions Privacy Accessibility