Global Spread of Democracy Risks Being Undermined by Weak Electoral Processes and Unrestrained Campaign Finance, Warns Global Commission

Global Spread of Democracy Risks Being Undermined by Weak Electoral Processes and Unrestrained Campaign Finance, Warns Global Commission PR Newswire LONDON, September 14, 2012 LONDON, September 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Eminent panel of former world leaders and experts identifies unrestrained campaign financing as one of five major challenges to democratic progress and elections with integrity around the world. Urgent national and international action is needed to protect and promote the integrity of elections, says a new report from the high-level Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security. The report, Deepening Democracy: a Strategy for Improving the Integrity of Elections Worldwide, finds that all but 11 countries have held national elections already this century. But some were deeply flawed, providing nothing but a "false veneer of legitimacy" to autocratic governments. The Commission emphasises that elections conducted with integrity not only promote democratic values and human rights, but also help to improve governance, fight corruption, empower minority groups and deliver services to the poor. If not conducted fairly, elections can undermine democracy, worsen divisions, trigger conflicts and fail to deliver improvements in the lives of people.