Carter Center deploys int’l expert team to PH polls

The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to promote peace and health worldwide. WEBSITE

ATLANTA— The Carter Center is deploying an international electoral expert mission to Manila to assess key aspects of the May 9 general elections in the Philippines.

The mission will focus on assessing the campaign and political finance system and on the use of the automated election system.

The expert mission, composed of five electoral experts, began its work on May 1. The mission will focus on assessing the campaign and political finance system and on the use of the automated election system.

While the expert mission will visit a limited number of polling stations on election day, it will not assess the conduct of voting processes or make a comprehensive assessment of the election process as a whole.

The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to promote peace and health worldwide.

Carter Center experts will meet with an array of electoral stakeholders, including the Philippines Commission on Elections (COMELEC), political parties, civil society organizations, media outlets, national observer missions, and other stakeholders. The expert mission is led by Peter Wardle, former chief executive of the UK Electoral Commission. Mission members are accredited by COMELEC.

After the conclusion of the electoral process, The Carter Center will publish a final report on key findings and conclusions, as well as recommendations for reform. The mission’s analysis will be based on international human rights obligations and standards for democratic elections.

The Center’s election missions are conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which was endorsed in 2005.