AESF: Looking Back and Forging Ahead

The seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-7) is happening in Manila, Philippines in 2027. As we anticipate the AESF-7, we’re hosting a mini-series within “The Election Observer” podcast series to discuss how AESF has served as a platform for dialogue and peer learning and finding common ground in advancing electoral democracy in Asia. We continue the discussion through a step back in time, a look into the electoral issues and challenges that defined particular moments in the region as a way to draw lessons that could be applied to contemporary threats to elections and democracy. We’ll also discuss building democratic resilience amid the pattern of democratic regression.Joining us in this episode are ANFREL chairperson Dr. Gopal Krishna Siwakoti and ANFREL secretary general Atty. Ona Caritos.

As we anticipate the next AESF, we’re hosting a mini-series within a series here at “The Election Observer” podcast to discuss how AESF has served as a platform for dialogue and peer learning and finding common ground in advancing electoral democracy in Asia. In this episode, we’ll try to map out what progress we have made in advancing electoral democracy, what recurring electoral issues need immediate attention and what are the emerging electoral issues that we need to take into serious account.Joining us are ANFREL program officer for governance and electoral reforms Ayan Rahman Khan, ANFREL senior program officer for international election observation Manjesh Rana, and ANFREL senior program officer for campaigns and advocacy Tharindu Abeyrathna.

The year 2025 was supposed to be a super election year for the Philippines with the national and local midterm elections in May, the first regular Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections in October, and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in December. The BARMM elections and BSKE, however, were postponed to 2026. The BARMM elections took place on 14 September 2026 after a series of postponements. The BSKE, scheduled for 2 November 2026, was postponed. On 25 September 2026, Philippine president Bongbong Marcos signed into law Republic Act No. 12326 which sets the term of barangay officials to five years, consequentially postponing the elections to November 2028.In Season 04 Episode 02 of “The Election Observer” podcast, ANFREL will discuss the repercussions of postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in the Philippines and how that impacts governance and the people’s right to suffrage. Joining us in this episode are Atty Izah Katrina Reyes, policy consultant at the Legal Network for Truthful Elections and Mr. Miguel Karlo Abadines, executive director of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan.

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) launched a framework for monitoring campaign and political finance during the "Political Finance Transparency and Oversight International Roundtable" in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.The report "Citizen Monitoring of Political and Campaign Finance in Asia: A Framework for Action" examines how civil society organizations (CSOs) monitor political and campaign finance in India, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.In Season 04 Episode 01 of “The Election Observer” podcast, ANFREL will discuss what lessons can be learned from the challenges identified from the country-specific case studies, the good practices that can be adopted, and how to apply the framework in monitoring political and electoral campaign finance. Joining us in this episode are Atty. Carlo Gino Africa, executive director of Hiraya, and Ayan Rahman Khan, program officer at ANFREL.

Various forms of e-voting systems have been adopted in different jurisdictions in Asia like the Philippines and India. Other countries like Indonesia and Nepal have been looking into e-voting systems, particularly online voting for overseas voters.In this episode of “The Election Observer” podcast, ANFREL will discuss key considerations, factors and risks in deploying and implementing e-voting systems. Joining us in this episode is Philippine Commission on Elections Office for Overseas Voting director Atty. Ian Michel G. Geonanga and Brigadier General Dr. Saleem Ahmad Khan (Retired), the Team Leader of Bangladesh Election Commission’s Out of Country Voting System Development & Implementation Project.

The shortage of ballot papers in the recently concluded local elections in South Korea that has led to doubts in the electoral process with people calling for a redo of the elections puts a spotlight on the value of sufficient preparations and sound voter experience.Similar and parallel incidents in elections in Asia have been unfortunately observed that have raised doubts about the integrity of the electoral process and contributed to voter disenfranchisement. These issues include delays in the delivery of election paraphernalia, poor queue management, malfunctioning vote counting machines where electronic voting systems are in place, accessibility issues of polling stations and ballot secrecy concerns. In this episode of “The Election Observer” podcast, ANFREL will discuss the importance of sufficient preparations in improving the voter’s experience on Election Day towards building public confidence and trust in the electoral process.Joining us in this episode are Transparency Maldives executive director Aishath Rizna and PERLUDEM executive director Heroik Mutaqin Pratama.

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has been monitoring electoral developments and the state of democracy in key areas in Asia where actions to push back against democratic backsliding have been noted. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, ANFREL deployed international election observation missions to elections in Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal and the elections of Tibetan diaspora communities in India. These elections have offered lessons about the challenges that electoral stakeholders continue to face in upholding electoral integrity but more importantly, most of them displayed glimmers of hope and resilience towards democratic consolidation. Throughout ANFREL’s engagements with these elections, we’ve invited guests on the show that have provided valuable insights on the democratization processes in these countries and lessons the recent electoral exercises offered towards regional standard setting and democratic norms building as well as national cooperation and collaboration among various electoral stakeholders. In this episode of “The Election Observer” podcast, we are turning the tables as we talk to people behind the scenes where they share anecdotes and reflections on these recent engagements through a lighthearted conversation.

The Southeast Asian region, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is at a crossroads as to how it could handle the changing geopolitical environment, reinforce democratic norms and values while maintaining its non-interference principle.With elections coming up in the Philippines this year and a new cycle of elections for other countries in the region in the coming years, this episode of “The Election Observer” podcast, seeks to identify lessons from the recent developments in the elections in the region and how regional efforts could be consolidated to redirect the region’s democratic transformation amid the trend of democratic regression.In this episode of "The Election Observer" podcast, ANFREL will discuss lessons from elections in Southeast Asia and the role ASEAN could play in ensuring electoral integrity in the region.

For the first time, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed an independent international expert election observation mission to Tibetan settlements in India to assess the conduct and integrity of the 2026 elections for the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE).Season 3 Episode 6 of The Election Observer podcast, sheds light on the plight of the Tibetan diaspora community in pursuit of self determination. Joining us in this episode are Majesh Rana, ANFREL senior program officer for IEOM, and Bhuching K. Tsering, research and monitoring unit head of International Campaign for Tibet.

In the second part of the discussion on empowering citizen engagement and participation in elections and democracy, we'll talk with seasoned electoral analysts who have observed elections in Asia.Joining us in this episode of "The Election Observer" podcast are Jyoti Mishra, assistant professor at Amity University Punjab, Atty. Ona Caritos, the executive director of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections and Asanka Senadeera, Senior Project Officer of PAFFREL.