CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY IN LEBANON™
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CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY IN LEBANON™
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The Democracy Project A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps, both. James Madison ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For sixty years, Lebanon has experimented with election laws, creating electoral districts (cazas and Mohafazat), regulations and procedures to conduct, monitor and control the parliamentary election. These laws were at best a last minute compromise between the powers of the time to ensure their success in the elections but they have repeatedly failed to yield a balanced representation of the Lebanese people as called for in the Lebanese constitution. The Center for Democracy in Lebanon (CDL) is pleased to present this "Model Electoral Law" on behalf of the Democracy Project, a partnership of the CDL, the Law Offices of Elie AlChaer and the Lebanon Voter Foundation. The Model Law reflects 6 months of drafting research by the CDL, detailed studies of the election trends in Lebanon by the Law Offices of Elie AlChaer, an analytical grading of prior and existing electoral laws by the Lebanon Voter Foundation, and advice from an Elections Advisory Committee of national and international experts in elections. The Model Law addresses the election of a Lebanese Senate as promulgated by the constitution amended in 1995, electoral districting, an election commissioner, advertising, new campaign finance practices such as issue ads, mandatory electronic filing of reports and other practices. Sections of this law will be published as their drafting is accomplished. The CDL welcomes any feedback from professional experts or concerned citizens. You may submit your feedback by e-mail to ElectionLaw@democracyinlebanon.org or by posting your opinion in the CDL discussion forums. --------------------------------
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