Summary: Election observers play a vital role in the elections of countries emerging from conflict. Their presence deters interference or fraud and reassures voters that they can safely and secretly cast their ballots, and their assessments are central to determining whether an election is considered genuinely democratic. Hear from leaders in the field of international election observation and administration as they discuss witnessing elections in countries emerging from warfare or under threat of new conflict. Recent and upcoming election projects will be analyzed as well as emerging standards for credible elections, a project spearheaded by The Carter Center. Panelists include Ammar Dwaik; former chief electoral officer of the Palestinian Central Election Commission; Ambassador Christian Strohal, permanent representative of Austria to the United Nations and specialized agencies in Geneva, and former director of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights; and Ilona Tip, senior advisor of conflict management, democracy, and electoral education at the Electoral Institute of South Africa (EISA). David Carroll, director of the Carter Center's Democracy Program, will moderate. 2/25/2009
