EXCEPTIUS: Exceptional powers in times of SARS-COV-2

When:	Th 29-04-2021 16:00 – 17:30
Where:	Online

From the series: Democracy in Distress we are presenting the first webinar on ‘Holding elections and voting in times of Covid-19’

Join us ONLINE VIA THIS LINK

For more than one year now, the Covid-19 crisis has affected our private and public life in ways we would have never foreseen. In particular, the outbreak has had a significant impact on democratic processes all over the world. Elections and votes are no exception to this rule. In some countries, elections have been postponed, votes – even constitutional ones – have been suspended. In others, electoral rules have been dramatically adapted and innovations have taken place to ensure democratic continuity. This first webinar of the Democracies Under Stress series will gather experts from different countries to share their experience and lessons learned of holding elections and voting in time of the Covid-19 crisis.

• The seminar will start with a global overview of the impacts of Covid-19 on electoral processes presented by Erik Asplund, Programme Officer, International IDEA

His intervention will be followed by the analysis of different case studies by:

• David Altman, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile will focus on the constitutional process in Chile
• Edalina Rodgrigues Sanches, Assistant Professor, ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal)  will provide a comparative analysis of the situation in sub-Saharan Africa
• Joe Mathews, California editor for Zócalo Public Square, Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs will reflect on the last US Presidential election and votes at the local level
• Simon Ootjes, University of Leiden will analyse the impact of the Covid-19 on the General Elections in the Netherlands

Presentations will be followed by a debate with the audience.