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About CEC / CEC members / 2007 / Arnis Cimdars

 

Arnis Cimdars

 

Chairman of the Central Election Commission

Member of the Central Election Commission since January 1997. As a Chairman of the Central Election Committee for the first time was elected on 11 December 1997. Later has been repeatedly approved to the office of Chairman of the Central Election Commission three times – in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

Date and place of birth

8 June 1962 in Jelgava, Latvia

Education

In 1985 has acquired higher education in the Agriculture Academy of Latvia in Jelgava, where graduated by acquisition of the Building Engineer speciality.

In 2009 has graduated the Social Science Faculty of the University of Latvia with Master’s degree (MSSc) in Political Sciences.

Professional experience

Elections and Referenda Administration

The Saeima (Parliament) of the Republic of Latvia Elections (1998, 2002, 2006)

The European Parliament Elections in Latvia (2004, 2009)

The Referendum on Latvia’s membership of the European Union (2003)

Local government elections in Latvia (1997, 2001, 2005, 2009)

Signature collections and Referenda (1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008)

Election Observation

Parliamentary elections in Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine.

Presidential elections in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine.

The European Parliament elections in Denmark and Sweden (1999), Referenda on the membership of the European Union in Poland, Estonia and Lithuania (2003).

In April 2003 as a Member of the OSCE ODIHR election assessment mission has participated in observation of the elections for the Scottish and Northern Ireland Parliament in the United Kingdom.

Consultative and Training Work (last 3 years)

Lectures and Workshops for electoral officials of the Central election Commission and Regional electoral bodies of Moldova in the frame of the ACEEEO Project ‘Electoral Capacity Building for the CEC of the Republic of Moldova’ (July 2008, in Chisinau, Moldova).

Consultations and exchange of experience with election administrators, state officials and representatives of NGO from Kosovo (May 2007), Georgia (February, 2008, April 2008, October 2009, December 2009), Belarus (April 2009), Moldova (March 2008, upon request of UNDP Moldova), Turkmenistan (July – August 2008, upon request of UNDP Turkmenistan)

Management of the International Electoral Administration Internship Programme in Riga for the Internship participants from Iran (March 2009, in collaboration with Creative Associates International Inc. and the International Electoral Education Council), as well meeting with the Internship participants from Iran and Turkey (September 2009).

Conferences / Seminars / Programmes (last 3 years)

OSCE Chairmanship Expert Seminars of EMB

Panellist on ‘The difficulties encountered by EMB in balancing complex political interests’ (July 2009, Vienna, Austria)

Panellist on the ‘Implementation of Existing OSCE commitments’ (July 2008, Vienna, Austria)

Venice Commission, European Conferences of EMB

Keynote speaker and Moderator of the Workshop ‘The (criteria for) disenfranchising electors’ at the 6th European Conference of EMB (November – December 2009, The Hague, Netherlands)

Participant of the 4th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies ‘Fighting against electoral fraud: Complaints and appeals procedures’. (September 2007, Strasbourg, France)

ACEEEO Annual Conferences

Chair of a Session and speaker on ‘Judgements in contested election cases: the Latvian experience’ (September 2009, Yerevan, Armenia)

Chair of a Session and speaker on ‘Assurance of the accuracy of voters’ list – public or personal?’ (September 2008, Constanta, Romania)

Chair of a Session and speaker on ‘Election and Education – Need, Experience and Prospects’ (September 2007, Strasbourg, France)

Other conferences, seminars & programmes

The International Conference ‘2010 Parliamentary Elections: More Democratic, More Transparent’ organized by the Association For Civil Society Development In Azerbaijan in collaboration with Eurasie: les nouveaux horizonts (April 2010, Baku, Azerbaijan)

International Conference ‘Electoral Management in the Republic of Moldova: Evolutions & Perspectives’ organized by UNDP Moldova, IFES and the Council of Europe (November 2009, Chisinau, Moldova)

Participant of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) 2008 U.S. Election Program (November 2008, Washington, USA)

Participant of the European Commission's DG JFS Meeting of the Expert Group on Electoral Matters (October 2008, Brussels, Belgium)

Panelist at the 3rd Seminar for International Observers and Consultants for Parliamentary Elections in the CIS ‘Genuine and fair elections in the context of the European political dialogue’ (February 2008, St. Petersburg, Russia)

International Conference ‘Features of the local general elections 2007 in the Republic of Moldova. Experience, problems, trends, conclusion at 10 years of permanent activity of the CEC’ (December 2007, Chisinau, Moldova)

International Conference ‘Advanced Voting Techniques 2007 – Present and Future’ (November 2007, Budapest, Hungary)

Plenary Moderator of ‘Professional Development’ at the Global Electoral Organization (GEO) Conference. (March 2007, Washington, USA)

Chair of the Session ‘Election Administration and Election Observation’ at the PACE Conference on the parliamentary dimension of election observation: Applying common standards. (February 2007, Strasbourg, France)

Professional Organizations

Member of the ACEEEO (1997 - present)

Executive Board member of ACEEEO (2000 - present)

President of ACEEEO (2005 - 2007)

Public activities

In 1995 has joined the Saimnieks party, later has become also a member of the Saimnieks Democratic Party. In 1998, considering that the office of Chairman of the Central Election Commission is incompatible with the party activities, has suspended the party activities. After the Saimnieks Democratic Party has been transformed for the Latvian Democratic party he has not reinstated his membership in the party and currently he is not a member of any party.

E-mail:cimdars@cvk.lv

Phone: +371 67814899