The Electoral Integrity Initiative is committed to fortifying democratic processes worldwide. Through collaborative efforts with experts and organizations, we aim to ensure transparency, uphold democratic values, and address political challenges hindering fair elections.
The Challenge
Elections have become almost universal since the end of the Cold War. Yet in many countries where elections are held, freedom and democracy are actually in retreat. Intended as mechanisms for the peaceful arbitration of political rivalries, they frequently become flashpoints for political violence. At the core of these paradoxes are elections without integrity.
All too often, elections serve merely to give autocratic regimes a veneer of legitimacy. But elections without integrity cannot provide the winners with legitimacy, the losers with security and the public with confidence in their leaders and institutions. The Electoral Integrity Initiative seeks to address the political challenges that undermine elections.
“Elections that meet legal form but fail the test of integrity are only pyrrhic victories that usually store up trouble for the future.”
Kofi Annan
About the Electoral Integrity Initiative
Launched in 2013, the Electoral Integrity Initiative (EII) is an informal hub for global organizations and individuals addressing electoral challenges. A group of individuals from around the world and from organizations with expertise and experience in improving electoral integrity make up the steering group for the project. Membership of the group is by invitation.
A group of Senior Public Figures made up of former statesmen and stateswomen lend their support to the Electoral Integrity Initiative, and engage, where requested, with individual countries where the risks of fraught and possibly violent elections are high.
Do you want to help build a fairer, more peaceful world?
Support us with your philanthropic gifts and grants
Publications + Media
Building Political Power: Raymundo’s Story from Malawi
In 2025, as elections approached, Raymundo Magangani wanted to do more than vote; he wanted to prepare other young people to run for office. Through WYDE Accountability Hubs‘ training and seed grant support, he launched a youth-led political leadership training programme in Mzuzu, Malawi. The programme featured expert sessions from the Malawi Electoral Commission, campaign […]
Back to the future?
The following is a transcript of the speech given by Corinne Momal-Vanian at the 16TH EISA ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM in Nairobi, 11 December 2024. Navigating political transitions in Africa It is an honour to be asked to deliver this opening speech on behalf of the Kofi Annan Foundation. For most of my career, the term “transition” […]
A Review of Generative AI Use in the 2024 European Parliament Elections
Report: GenAI at the Ballot Box Since mid-2023, experts have identified the use of one or more forms of generative AI (GenAI) in nearly every national election, including elections in Argentina, Bangladesh, India, and Slovakia. Consequently, it is no surprise that concerns abound around the globe regarding the use of GenAI during elections, whether by […]
Contact us
Partner with us for an ongoing or future project.
Follow us on Social Media
Head of Democracy & Multilateralism Programmes
Declan O’Brien
More Projects
in Elections + Democracy
→Electoral Vulnerability Index
Predicting Election-Related Violence
→Multilateralism & Democracy Roundtables
Building an evidence-based understanding of the links between multilateralism and democracy
→WYDE Civic Engagement – Centres de Responsabilité et Transparence
Renforcer la responsabilité et la transparence dans la gouvernance