1.

On the occasion of the mayoral election of the Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture, on the 15th of July, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan invited some officials of the electoral organizations from Asian counties from Saturday, 14th until Friday, 20th of July 2012, in order to participate the Election Visit Program, which included study tour to the mayoral election polling place in Niiza City, a straw poll, workshop about elections e.g. comparison studies on the election system of each country and a visit to the National Diet Building of Japan.

2.

This Election Visit Program has been conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, under the framework of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), which was established in 2008 under the initiative of Indonesia to accelerate and enhance democracy in the Asian region. This is the 6th Election Visit Program since it was commenced on the occasion of the Indonesia’s presidential election in July 2009.

3.

In the Election Visit Program, 22 officials of the electoral organizations participated from 12 countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Australia, NZ, China and South Korea. The group was headed by Dr. Erawan, Executive Director of Institute for Peace and Democracy in Indonesia.

4.

It is expected that participants through this Election Visit Program will deepen understanding about democracy, especially democratic election system and contribute to promoting democratization in the region.