ELECTORAL OFFICIALS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
CHONBURI, THAILAND, 11-12 JUNE 2001

       “The co-hosts of the conference, the Election Commission of Thailand and the Australian Electoral Commission, announced today that they are extremely pleased with the outcome of the Conference. All participating delegates ( Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Administration) expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to attend the Conference, which provided a forum for them to participate in positive discussions on current issues facing electoral administrators.

       Delegates also acknowledged the benefits of such conferences to the development of professional networks in the arena of electoral administration. Delegates focused on the challenges facing electoral management bodies including logistics, the increased role that technology plays in the electoral process and the increasing expectations of voters in relation their participation in the electoral process. Discussion also focused on the importance of the elimination of electoral fraud and malpractice to the conduct of free and fair elections in the region. In this regard, delegates acknowledged the necessity for electoral bodies to be independent and impartial.

       The conference identified many similarities, not only in the way the represented countries approach the organization and conduct of national elections, but also in the challenges they face for the future. These discussions were important to the exchange of knowledge and ideas, the quest for continuous improvement and the identification of best practice in electoral administration.

       The delegates considered the conference such a success, that they unanimously expressed their hope that this would be the first of many such events, supporting the idea that they be held on a regular basis, perhaps every 12 to 18 months.

       All delegates expressed their overwhelming gratitude for the warm hospitality shown by their hosts, the ECT, and for the excellent arrangement that were made”.