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The United States International Center for Electoral Support (USICES) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in the United States with a global mandate. USICES supports sustainable democratic governance by strengthening electoral systems, enhancing the professionalism and independence of election administration, and promoting inclusive participation across the electoral cycle.
USICES provides demand-driven technical and operational assistance to Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and key electoral stakeholders. Our work focuses on institutional capacity-building, professional development of election officials, electoral infrastructure modernization, and the meaningful inclusion of underrepresented and marginalized populations. We support locally led and context-sensitive approaches that reinforce national ownership, institutional resilience, and long-term sustainability of electoral processes.
USICES works in partnership with a broad spectrum of election stakeholders, including international democracy and governance institutions, EMBs, civil society organizations engaged in voter education and election observation, legislatures, media organizations, security institutions, and judicial bodies. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, USICES helps address operational, legal, and political challenges associated with administering credible, transparent, and inclusive elections in complex environments.
Our programs aim to improve the effectiveness, integrity, and efficiency of election administration by equipping practitioners with practical tools, evidence-based methodologies, and internationally recognized best practices. USICES advances a clear and principled vision: accessible and secure voting, public confidence in electoral outcomes, protection of fundamental political rights, mitigation of electoral tensions, and prevention of election-related conflict.
USICES draws on a diverse pool of experienced international experts and practitioners to deliver high-quality training and technical support on innovative and emerging election administration topics. We promote peer-to-peer learning and professional exchange by facilitating structured engagement between election officials from U.S. state and county election authorities and their counterparts in emerging and developing democracies. Through knowledge transfer and sustained professional networks, USICES contributes to stronger institutions, accountable electoral governance, and durable democratic outcomes.
“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.”
— Lyndon B. Johnson
“Every citizen of a country should be guaranteed that their vote matters, that their vote is counted and that in the voting booth, their vote has as much weight as that of any CEO, any member of Congress, or any President.”
— Barbara Boxer
“Always vote for principles, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
— President John Quincy Adams
The United States International Center for Electoral Support (USICES) works to strengthen democratic governance by advancing professional, inclusive, and accountable electoral systems. We support sustainable democratic reform through the provision of comparative electoral expertise, capacity-building, and technical assistance to electoral management bodies and democratic institutions.
Grounded in international standards and best practices, USICES promotes institutional integrity, transparency, and public confidence in electoral processes. Our work prioritizes inclusivity and equal participation, with a particular focus on underrepresented and marginalized populations, to ensure that democratic processes are credible, resilient, and responsive to the will of the people.
At the United States International Center for Electoral Support, we are guided by a clear conviction: participation in public life is a universal human aspiration. Across societies and cultures, citizens pursue this aspiration in diverse and evolving ways, shaped by history, context, and innovation. Democracy is not a fixed model nor a destination to be reached; it is a living system that must continuously adapt to meet the expectations and needs of the people it serves.
At its core, democracy rests on citizen control of government and political equality among all participants. Beyond these foundational principles, the true quality of a democratic system is best assessed by citizens themselves, through their confidence in institutions, their ability to make meaningful choices, and their trust in the processes that translate civic will into public authority.
Election officials play a central role in safeguarding these democratic values. As stewards of electoral integrity, they are essential to ensuring that elections are credible, inclusive, transparent, and accountable. We recognize the vital relationship between citizens and election administrators in sustaining democratic legitimacy and fostering responsible leadership.
Our approach focuses on strengthening this relationship. We work to professionalize election administration, enhance institutional capacity, and promote high standards of electoral practice. At the same time, we support citizen empowerment by advancing understanding, engagement, and confidence in electoral processes. By reinforcing both sides of the democratic equation, capable institutions and informed, empowered citizens, we seek to build durable trust and contribute to resilient, accountable democratic systems worldwide.
