Interim government head of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus announced on 5 August 2025 that he will write to the Election Commission chief requesting to hold elections before Ramadan in February 2026. In this episode of The Election Observer podcast, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) discussed what preparations are being done for the next elections and the reforms that have been implemented to ensure electoral integrity in Bangladesh.Brac University School of Law Assistant Professor Md. Mostafa Hosain, ANFREL Senior Program Officer Tharindu Abeyrathna and Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) Secretary Badiul Majumdar are joined us in this episode.
The “Great Recall” in Taiwan has been considered as an unprecedented effort to recall sitting representatives in the national-level legislature with no other recall efforts worldwide having been recorded as extensive as what happened in Taiwan.In Season 2 Episode 6 of "The Election Observer" podcast, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) will discuss what the results of the “great recall” mean for Taiwan moving forward and how the recall efforts affect the overall health of democracy in Taiwan.William Yang, senior analyst for North East Asia at the International Crisis Group and Bo Tedards, a long-time observer of politics in Taiwan, join us for this episode.
Youth participation and engagement in elections and democracy building are important for the sustainability and growth of democracy. Believing and investing in the power of the youth and hopefully inspiring the young generation in engaging in elections, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has implemented youth-centered programs like the Asian Academy for Electoral Integrity.ANFREL is also a proud partner institution of the Global Service Internship Program of Tamkang University in Taiwan, a program which provides students an opportunity to expose themselves to the work of civil society organizations and engage in hands-on learning opportunities. In this episode of The Election Observer podcast, ANFREL talked to Prof. Cheng-Hao Pao, the dean of the College of International Affairs at Tamkang University and ANFREL interns under GSIP to talk about the program and the value of youth engagement in elections and democracy building.
In a special episode of The Election Observer, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) discusses monitoring social media during the 2025 national and local elections in the Philippines with Brizza Rosales of ANFREL and Olivia Leu and Dan Richardson of The Carter Center.
The military junta in Myanmar that staged a coup in 2021 after the 2020 general election is pushing to hold elections in the country by the end of 2025.In this episode of The Election Observer podcast, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) invited Progressive Voice founder and chairperson Khin Ohmar to unpack the junta's planned elections in Myanmar.
Japan heads to the polls for the House of Councillors Elections on 20 July 2025. While Japan's electoral laws have been generally regarded as fair and well enforced, there are electoral issues that need to be addressed including low voter turnout, gender gap and representation, increasing public distrust on the government and overall dissatisfaction with the state of democracy.
In this episode of "The Election Observer" podcast, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) discusses electoral issues in Japan and the overall state of democracy in the country with Prof Hiroaki SHIGA of Yokohama National University and Prof. Tsai Hsi-Hsun of Tamkang University.
Civil society organizations and human rights defenders collectively expressed concerns over the undermining of electoral processes in Southeast Asia, among others, during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Peoples @ ASEAN 2025 in May 2025. The convention coincided with the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and where the participants issued three main calls for ASEAN including developing an ASEAN Framework on Democratic Governance, Electoral Integrity, and Rule of Law. “The Election Observer” podcast of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) discussed the emerging and pressing issues that undermine electoral integrity in Southeast Asia and the role of ASEAN in ensuring electoral integrity in the region.ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) executive director Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Perkumpulan untuk Pemilu dan Demokrasi (PERLUDEM) program officer Heroik Pratama and Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) junior program officer Alexa Yadao joined us in this episode.
As we commemorate the annual World Press Freedom Day every May 3, Episode 10 of “The Election Observer” podcast will discuss informing the electorate through election reporting, addressing press freedom issues and challenges and navigating technological advancements.Carmela Fonbuena, Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and Arthur Rochereau, advocacy officer of the Reporters without Borders are joining this episode.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is preparing to observe the elections in the Philippines and is working to support the democratization in Bangladesh.Key elections in 2025 include the national and local elections and Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in the Philippines, the local council elections in Sri Lanka and the general election in Bangladesh. The military junta in Myanmar has also made pronouncements of holding elections later in 2025. Other anticipated elections include elections for the House of Councillors in Japan, the general election in Singapore and the Legislative Council elections in Hong Kong.In Episode 09 of "The Election Observer" podcast, ANFREL will discuss how election observation, capacity building and campaigns and advocacy efforts in countries holding elections in 2025 promote electoral integrity drawing lessons and best practices from the experience during the 2024 super election year and previous elections.
Nonpartisan and independent citizen election observation and monitoring deters electoral fraud and irregularities, promotes transparency and accountability among election officials and government institutions and boosts public confidence in the electoral process therefore enhancing electoral integrity.The work, however, comes with risks as a number of groups have experienced forms of violence, intimidation and coercion, legal challenges, and restrictions. With the recent global developments in the ever changing geopolitical landscape, support for the work of groups and organizations in the democratization space has also been affected.Episode 08 of ANFREL's “The Election Observer” podcast will discuss promoting citizen observer rights and the issues and challenges that election observers and monitors face in strengthening and protecting democracy.
Proactive voter participation is among the key indicators of a vibrant democracy where effective voter and civic education programs play a key role. Episode 07 of "The Election Observer" podcast will discuss how voter and civic education programs contribute to making the electorate better informed towards ensuring electoral integrity.
Speaking truth to power and engaging in democratic processes, the youth continues to reinvigorate democracy through the hope and promise they bring. Episode 06 of "The Election Observer" podcast will discuss youth empowerment in participating and engaging in elections and democracy building.
After the campaign promises have been said, have your elected representatives kept their word? Parliamentary monitors are independent groups that conduct comprehensive review of the performance of the members of parliament. Episode 05 of "The Election Observer" podcast will discuss parliamentary monitoring approaches and the value of holding power to account.
In celebration of International Women's Day, the Asian Network for Free Elections invited women leaders in civil society organizations to discuss the issues and challenges that women face in engaging and participating in democratic processes like elections and identify possible solutions to improve representation and inclusion in governance and policy making.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) will discuss the electoral reform prospects in Bangladesh amid calls for elections in an era of transition and transformation towards realizing the democratic aspirations post-authoritarian rule.ANFREL senior program officer Tharindu Abeyrathna and Dr. MD Abdul Alim of the Electoral Reform Commission of Bangladesh will speak in the new episode of The Election Observer.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) invited the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to discuss the campaigning in the 2025 national and local elections in the Philippines.
The Asian Network for Free Elections or ANFREL is soft launching a new podcast series titled “The Election Observer”. The series will be inviting election observer groups and democracy advocates to discuss and provide insights about contemporary electoral issues and challenges in the region.
The special pilot episode features ANFREL executive director Brizza Rosales who will discuss about ANFREL's international election observation mission to the 2024 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections. She will provide insights on the importance of election observation and the significant contribution of election observer groups to ensure electoral integrity and push for electoral reforms.
