Egypt hosts the Continental Forum of Election Management Bodies with wide participation from African countries
The forum discusses developing mechanisms for expatriate voting.
Written by: Mohammed Omran
The National Elections Authority received the delegations participating in the tenth session of the Annual Continental Forum of African Election Management Bodies at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport. Egypt is hosting this forum on July 6 and 7, with broad participation from heads and members of election bodies, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations concerned with electoral affairs.
Egypt hosts the Continental Forum of Election Management Bodies with wide participation from African countries
The Authority has taken care to provide all necessary arrangements for receiving the participating delegations and facilitating their arrival procedures, within the framework of intense preparations for the launch of the Forum's work, which is held under the title “Voting of Expatriates Abroad: Progress, Gaps, and Future Prospects.”.
The forum is attended by more than 100 representatives from electoral bodies, official delegations, and international organizations, including the African Union Commission, the Association of African Electoral Authorities, the League of Arab States, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and the European Centre for Electoral Support, as well as representatives from dozens of African countries.
The National Election Authority's selection to host the forum comes in light of its accumulated experience in managing electoral entitlements, especially regarding organizing the voting of Egyptians residing abroad, and the efforts it exerts to ensure their empowerment to exercise their constitutional right to cast their votes.
The Egyptian experience in this regard has become a model to be emulated across the African continent, reflecting the Authority's efficiency in managing various electoral processes according to the highest organizational standards.
The forum is scheduled to discuss a number of important issues, most notably the development of voting mechanisms for citizens residing abroad, and the legislative and logistical challenges associated with this issue, in addition to exchanging experiences and best practices among African electoral bodies, contributing to enhancing the integrity and transparency of electoral processes and consolidating democratic practices in the countries of the continent.
