• Afghanistan
• Arms control
• Climate change
• The Commonwealth
• Conference on Somalia
• Conflict minerals
• Council of Europe
• Counter proliferation
• Counter terrorism
• Conference on Cyberspace
• European Union
• Growth and prosperity
• Human rights
• Human rights around the world
• Democracy
• Elections
• How to Note on Electoral Assistance
• Freedom of expression
• Human rights defenders
• Westminster Foundation for Democracy
• Democracy around the world
• Equality & non-discrimination
• Justice & security
• The international human rights framework
• London 2012 Olympics
• Middle East and North Africa
• NATO
• Peacekeeping
• Piracy
• Polar Regions
• United Nations
• US - UK relations
• Women, peace & security

Elections

Supporting elections and electoral processes is central to the UK’s work to advance democracy.

This support is provided at all stages of the electoral process, specific to the needs of the country concerned, and can include working with election commissions, supporting voter registration and electoral reform, and working with the media. Such projects are funded through the human rights and democracy strategic programme fund. The Foreign Office and Department for International Development (DFID) have also launched a How to Note on electoral assistance.

The UK also contributes to international election observation missions through a number of international organisations (including the EU, OSCE and Commonwealth).

International election observation can discourage fraud and voter intimidation and increase voter confidence, resulting in more legitimate election results.

How to Note on Electoral Assistance

The FCO and DFID have produced a joint How to Note on electoral assistance, covering both diplomatic engagement and development assistance.

   

See also

• Human rights and democracy strategic programme fund
• How to Note on electoral assistance
• Foreign Office and human rights around the world 

Useful links

• Commonwealth human rights initiative
• European Commission