IFES

Democracy is about people. Watch our new video, which showcases IFES staff and partners who work tirelessly to make meaningful political participation for all people possible worldwide. This video was made possible by the generosity of @Sida.
Full video: bit.ly/3WR3Snn

IFES will honor U.S. Representative (and IFES Board member) Steny Hoyer with the Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award for Lifetime Achievement during IFES’ Annual Democracy Celebration in Washington, DC, on November 30, 2026.

And we are so pleased Congressman Hoyer (D-MD) will be joined by U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) for a fireside conversation exploring the importance of bipartisan leadership, the challenges facing democracy worldwide, and the enduring role the United States can play in supporting democratic institutions and free and fair elections around the globe.

The programmatic portion of the evening will be livestreamed for our friends and colleagues around the world who cannot attend in-person. Link to more details and registration in comments! ⤵️

How has technology transformed politics, and what happens next?

Tomorrow in Washington, DC, join IFES and @KatieHarbath for a behind-the-scenes look at the collision of technology, elections, and democracy.

From the early days of digital campaigning to a decade at Facebook navigating elections around the world, Katie has witnessed some of the biggest shifts in modern politics firsthand. Her new book, "Disrupting Politics," offers an insider’s perspective on what changed, what went wrong, and what we can learn.

Join Katie and panelists Lisa Poggiali, PhD (IFES), Saurabh Shukla (NewsMobile), and David Lopez (Google) for a timely conversation on the future of technology and democracy, followed by drinks and networking.

📅 Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 20 | 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 Washington, DC

If you work at the intersection of technology, public policy, elections, or democracy, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

🔗 Registration link in comments.

📅 Monday, November 30, 2026, 5:00 PM: Join IFES for its annual Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award Celebration, online and in Washington, DC!

⏳ We are counting down to the 'big reveal' of our lifetime achievement awardee -- stay tuned.