The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Electoral Service of Chile (Servel), with support from the Government of Canada, today inaugurated in Santiago the XVIII Inter-American Meeting of Electoral Management Bodies (RAE for its acronym in Spanish), an annual hemispheric meeting where regional authorities responsible for the administration and adjudication of elections discuss topics including mechanisms to increase citizen participation, limits and challenges of artificial intelligence in elections, strategies to protect electoral arbiters, the protection of political rights in contexts of insecurity, and best practices for managing electoral conflicts.
The 18th edition of the RAE is being attended by more than 66 authorities and representatives from 35 electoral bodies across 26 OAS member states.
During the inauguration of the Meeting, OAS Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, highlighted that "among the many complex issues we will address, one stands out: the increasing attacks on electoral institutions. Electoral authorities are not only organizers of election day, they are the constitutional referees of democratic competition. You embody the trust of citizens in the rules of the game." He added that "Because democracy cannot survive without trusted, resilient electoral institutions, and democracy cannot be reduced to a slogan, it must be protected in practice even when it is uncomfortable." Finally, Secretary General Ramdin called on member states to "protect electoral institutions because they are the foundation of voter trust and democracy."
For her part, Servel's President Pamela Figueroa stressed that "this space reminds us that multilateralism is fertile ground for dialogue, the analysis of common scenarios, and the convergence of multiple ideas." She added that "when we look with the eyes of the present, it is difficult to imagine how a growing democracy in the 20th century, excluded half of the population – women – for so long. But we have learned throughout the region that the political participation of women has enriched our countries by broadening citizenship and strengthening institutions." President Figueroa concluded that today's challenge is twofold, "on one hand, to protect the independence, autonomy, and security of electoral bodies against attacks and persistent delegitimization campaigns. And on the other, to maintain public trust and the technical nature of electoral bodies in the face of this political tension."
Also present at the inauguration, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Alberto van Klaveren, noted that "it is an honor for Chile to host the RAE for the first time, a space that expresses the best of our region and the Organization: cooperation, mutual learning, and a shared commitment to strengthening democracy. That this 18th edition is being held in Chile, hand in hand with the OAS, is more than a mere protocolary honor. It constitutes an explicit and concrete reaffirmation of our country's commitment to the values that sustain the inter-American system." The Minister also highlighted that "this meeting is taking place in the year that Servel celebrates its 100 anniversary. We celebrate the centennial of the Electoral Service, a regional benchmark for its professionalism, independence, and capacity for innovation in the service of citizen trust."
The Ambassador of Canada to Chile, Karolina Guay, underscored the importance of the XVIII Meeting, calling it "an opportunity for those involved in the administration and management of elections to discuss electoral processes and observation." She added that "this exchange of knowledge strengthens our collective ability to defend democratic principles and ensure electoral integrity."
The Inter-American Meetings of Electoral Management Bodies promote the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and successful practices in electoral administration within the region. These meetings facilitate horizontal cooperation to strengthen the institutional capacities of electoral bodies and continue to improve the way elections are conducted in the Americas.
Reference: E-053/25
