not followed. For example, in the United States, the Department of Justice monitors compliance with national accessibility laws on Election Day and sues local government authorities that are not compliant with these laws. This practice helps ensure laws are actually implemented. Capture Lessons Learned A review should be conducted from the perspective of the EMB, DPOs and observers. The review should assess the impact of actions taken to increase access. Were there improvements from the last election? What could stakeholders do to have more inclusive elections in the future? EMBs should assess the effectiveness of tools like tactile ballot guides developed earlier in the electoral cycle. Political parties should use this time to determine if their outreach efforts to persons with disabilities were sufficient and to develop strategies for the future. CSOs should assess whether their observation and civic education methods could be improved to increase accessibility and be more inclusive of persons with disabilities. Good Practice NDI provided assistance to Poraka, a Macedonian DPO representing persons with intellectual disabilities, in drafting and promoting a pledge for parties to ratify the CRPD within 100 days of the formation of the new government. Poraka used the signed pledge to gain widespread press coverage of the need to ratify the CRPD. Following this campaign, the Macedonian Assembly unanimously ratified the CRPD. This successful campaign raised the profile of the DPO as a capable civil society actor, thereby promoting a positive perception of persons with disabilities as empowered citizens. DPOs should use the opportunity presented during the post-election period to create concrete recommendations for policy reform to address challenges. This review should include analysis of reforms that can be implemented in both the short and long-term. DPOs should also be involved in any electoral law reform efforts that may take place post-election. DPOs should actively maintain the relationships formed with political actors during the election period. If DPOs conducted election access observation, the postelectoral period is the time to draft recommendations to the EMB based on their findings. If DPOs conducted advocacy with political parties and were able to secure their agreement to implement inclusive policies, the post-electoral period is the time to follow up with the winning candidates to ensure these policies are implemented. Accessibility of Government Institutions Even if all barriers can be overcome and a person with a disability is elected as a local, regional or national representative or hired as an EMB official, challenges might remain. Often, buildings where politicians and civil servants work or the public transportation needed to travel to work are not accessible. Information on laws and policies currently up for debate in government may also not be produced in accessible formats. Elected officials with disabilities can highlight this gap in accessibility by their presence in office. They can also contribute to advocacy efforts that impact funding and government priorities. Capacity-building of DPOs As noted, the capacity of DPOs is often lower than the capacity of other CSOs. Reasons for this vary, but often include lower levels of education due to inaccessible schools and resources. For this reason, additional support may be required for training in project management and budgeting. Implementing organizations partnering with DPOs should plan for additional commitment of staff time and resources. Training may be conducted during any period of the electoral cycle, but ideally they are carried out well in advance of the election. 60 International Foundation for Electoral Systems and National Democratic Institute