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US-Based Programs for African Elections Fellows
The US-based Programs for African Elections Fellows: The first US-based program included 3 African participants from each country. The African participants were recruited in each country following a period of advertising the program, and via a merit-based application process. In each case, we collaborated with the US Embassy PAO and the local partner organizations for both advertisement and selection. Strong preference was given to emerging national leaders in the field of elections. For each country delegation, we paid close attention to ensuring a variety of professional backgrounds, to include government officials, civil society activists, party members and other political professionals, as well as in some cases academics.
During their three-plus week stay in the US, the 18 Elections Fellows had the opportunity to hear from and interact with numerous academics and practitioners from the public and private sectors who have an intimate knowledge of elections in the US. The Fellows began their study program in Gainesville, Florida. During their nearly two-week stay, they met with political science faculty at the University of Florida who are experts on voting rights, electoral mobilization, and political campaigning, and who have a wealth of “real world” experiences in these areas, such as Professor Michael Martinez, Professor Bryon Moraski, Professor Richard Schert and Professor Daniel Smith. In addition, the Fellows took a field trip to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections, Mrs. Pam Carpenter, meeting with her and her staff to discuss the magnitude of conducting local, state, and federal elections. They also had the chance to hear from and interrogate political pollsters and candidate consultants, civic leaders in the area of voting rights, civil rights, and community activism, as well as members of the media during their stay in Gainesville, such as Roger Austin, Dave Beattie and City Commissioner at Large, Mrs Jeanna Mastrodicasa. The Fellows were introduced and discussed with the City of Gainesville’s Mayor, Craig Lowe, about the challenges and opportunities of running in a City election.
The Fellows then traveled to Florida’s state capital, Tallahassee, where they met with state elections officials, voting rights and elections stakeholders, and campaign consultants. They visited the Florida Secretary of State, Mr. Kurt Browning, at the Florida Division of Elections, and they had discussions about media coverage at the Florida Press Association. Over five days, they had the opportunity to tour the statehouse as well as the Florida State Capitol, where they met with Florida State Representative Ron Saunders. They also had a rigorous discussion about the 2000 Election in Florida with a panel of experts among which were Judge Clark of the Florida First District Curt of Appeals, and Neil Skene Jr., lawyer and former journalist in Tallahassee (both participated in the July 2012 TSEP in Africa).
Finally, the participants spent a week in Washington, D.C. After touring the U.S. Capitol, they met with elected officials and their staff, such as Senator Chris Coons and Halie Soifier, Foreign Policy and Defense Advisor to the Senator. They also had the opportunity to meet with experts in the field of elections administration, and election monitoring such as the Leon County Supervisor of Elections, political campaigning, and the media. The program ended with an Enrichment Conference co-organized with ECA.
