The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) was founded in Lebanon by a number of activists in the public sector on March 13, 1996. LADE is a civil, independent and nonprofit organization specialized in elections and how closely they are linked to democracy.

The association is concerned with monitoring the elections in their different forms as well as studying the electoral systems and laws according to the international democratic electoral standards, especially standards that guarantee free, fair and transparent elections.

LADE aims at pushing political parties to introduce the reforms that are in line with the international standards of electoral laws, especially the municipal law. The association also works closely with the student groups and unions.

LADE advocates the introduction of the desired reforms to the electoral law by exerting pressure on the political parties to adopt the standards needed to ensure democratic elections. The Association educates citizens on the important electoral issues and introduces them to electoral laws, voters’ rights and the criteria of a good candidate. LADE also pays great attention to young people and students, especially college students, as well as workers and employers’ unions.

Researchers, academics, journalists, lawyers, college students, experts and a number of civil society activists are members of the association.

Ever since LADE was established and kicked off its activities in 1996, it was able to achieve the following goals:

Instill the principle of the electoral civil monitoring process, regardless of the elections’ type and nature, and include this principle in the parliamentary electoral law (2008/25). 
Widen the circle of discussions pertaining to the parliamentary and municipal electoral laws to reach senior political and social officials as well as different categories of the civil society. 
Include the Students’ Council electoral law in the agenda of administrative and students’ committees in different Lebanese universities. 
Agree on key reforms and turn them into an issue discussed by the public opinion. They are the main reforms introduced to the municpal and Ikhtiyari electoral law. 
Upgrade the performance and the impartiality of observers to guarantee their objectivity when reporting violations and breaches commited by both the organizers and the participants. 
Motivate groups of young people in cities, villages and towns, and encourage them to actively participate in the public sphere.