The ACE Electoral Knowledge Network is a web portal with information on elections designed to meet the needs of people working in the electoral field.

Goals

The goal of the ACE network is to provide knowledge to people working in the field elections, with the intention of supporting credible and transparent electoral processes with emphasis on sustainability, professionalism and trust.

The ACE Website

Most activities of the ACE network are carried out through the ACE website. The website is divided into a number of sections:

• Elections today contains information on current affairs in elections, such as news articles, upcoming events and an election calendar.
• Encyclopaedia presents texts and articles on a number of electoral topics (for example Electoral Systems or Elections and Technology).
• Comparative Data provides statistics (graphs, pie charts etc.) and data on election-related topics.
• Electoral Materials is a virtual library with sample materials (ballot papers, electoral laws, publications etc.) from different countries.
• Support and Advice holds information on areas of electoral support (election observation and assistance) and links to the ACE expert network.
• Regions and Countries is a portal page for region- or country-specific information.
• About ACE has more information about the ACE network and its structure.

The full website is fully available in English while much content is also available in Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian.

The ACE Experts

Part of ACE is the Practitioners' Network – an online community of experts in the field of elections. The members of the Practitioners’ Network share a private online platform where they discuss electoral issues, exchange experiences and connect to fellow experts. Any user can submit a question to the Practitioners’ Network; the question will be discussed among the experts and the expert replies forwarded to the user.

The Practitioners’ Network is open to applications; membership of the network is free but members are required to have “several years of experience of working in a senior position for one or a number of organisations within the electoral field” and/or “proven expertise” in a specific area of elections.

History

The ACE network was created in 1998 as the ACE (Administration and Cost of Elections) Project by International IDEA, IFES

International Foundation for Electoral Systems

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1987. This Washington, D. C.-based development organization provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies...

 and UNDESA

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to the major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees...

. At this time, the project focused solely on election administration with the aim to create an encyclopaedia with texts on how to administer electoral processes. However, the project developed further into a more interactive network with a focus wider than just electoral administration. In 2006, to reflect the new identity of the project, the name was changed to the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network (with the letters ACE no longer standing for Administration and Cost of Elections).

Organisation

ACE is a collaboration between nine Partner Organisations: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa (EISA)

Electoral Institute of Southern Africa

The Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa , or EISA, is an organization founded in 1996 in Johannesburg to "promote credible elections, participatory democracy, human rights culture and the strengthening of governance institutions for the consolidation of democracy in...

, Elections Canada

Elections Canada

Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency reporting directly to the Parliament of Canada. Its ongoing responsibility is to ensure that Canadians can exercise their choices in federal elections and referenda through an open and impartial process...

, the Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico (IFE)

Federal Electoral Institute

The Federal Electoral Institute is an autonomous, public organization responsible for organizing federal elections in Mexico, that is, those related to the election of the President of the United Mexican States and to the election of the members of the Lower and Upper Chambers that constitute the ...

, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

International Foundation for Electoral Systems

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1987. This Washington, D. C.-based development organization provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies...

 and the UN agencies UNDESA

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to the major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees...

, UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...

 and UNEAD. The European Commission

European Commission

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....

is an ex-officio member.

The highest decision-making body of ACE is the Steering Board, consisting of representatives from the Partner Organisations. The day to day management of the project is carried out by the ACE Secretariat, currently hosted by International IDEA. The Secretariat is assisted in its tasks by the Programme Advisory Board with representatives from the ACE Partner Organisations.

External links

• ACE Electoral Knowledge Network website
• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)
• Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa (EISA)
• Elections Canada
• Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico (IFE)
• International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
• UNDESA
• UNDP
• UNEAD