Erik Asplund is a Senior Programme Officer in the Electoral Processes Programme, International IDEA.

His research covers elections during emergencies and crises, risk management in elections, and training and professional development in electoral administration.  Asplund has worked directly with over two dozen electoral management bodies and civil society organizations in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. He hosts ‘Peer-to-Peer,’ an International IDEA podcast series on electoral processes. He is also an accredited Building Resources in Democracy Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) workshop facilitator and curriculum writer.  He is the project lead for the natural hazard and elections and the Covid-19 and election projects. From 2022 until early 2024, he worked as the Deputy Chair of the BRIDGE project, and from 2015 to 2016, he worked as the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network partnership coordinator.  

Before joining the Institute, Erik worked for Tostan International and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). He holds a Master’s in International Studies from Uppsala University, and a BA in Modern History, Economic History and Politics from Royal Holloway, University of London. 

Recent publications include Elections during Emergencies and Crises: Lessons for Electoral Integrity from the Covid-19 Pandemic (International IDEA 2023) and Training and Professional Development in Electoral Administration (International IDEA 2023).