CREDIBLE ELECTIONS FOR DEMOCRACY GEO 2011 GABORONE BOTSWANA

CREDIBLE ELECTIONS FOR DEMOCRACY GEO 2011 GABORONE, BOTSWANA 7 – 9 MARCH 2011

The Role of Elections Management Bodies Between Elections and links with other Stakeholders Koki Muli 2011

THE ELECTORAL CYCLE (Source: BRIDGE Project)

The Electoral Cycle Post-election Verification of Results Legal Framework 8 7 6 Voting Operations & Election Day Electoral Campaign 5 1 4 2 3 Electoral Planning & Implementation Training & Education Voter Registration

The Electoral Cycle Post-election Legal Framework Post-election Verification of Results Legal Framework Electoral Planning & Implementation Verification of Results Voting Operations & Election Day Electoral Campaign Electoral Planning & Implementation Training & Education Electoral Campaign Voter Registration Training & Education Voter Registration

reform audits & evaluations constitution electoral bodies development tabulation of results Post-election complaints & appeals official results pre-voting & out-of-country voting Verification of Results Voting Operations & Election Day vote-counting voting media legislation electoral system Legal Framework The Electoral Cycle Electoral Campaign party liaison complaints financing security budgeting resource planning & implementation Electoral Planning & Implementation funding & financing calendar/ timeline election officials Training & Education civic & voter education Voter Registration voters parties & candidates observers

The Electoral Cycle post-election period (strategy) three main segments sustainable electoral support POST ELECTION VERIFICATION OF RESULTS election period (operations) VOTING OPERATIONS & ELECTION DAY LEGAL FRAMEWORK THE ELECTORAL CYCLE PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION TRAINING & EDUCATION ELECTORAL REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN & NOMINATIONS pre-election period (preparations)

Key stakeholders and partners • Government (Local Govt. relevant Ministries, Tribunals, Registrars, Police, AG, PA, Bureau of statistics, etc) • Constitutional Commissions (CIC, KLRC, NCIC) • Parliament • Governmental and intergovernmental organisations (UN, IDEA, EAC, SADC, etc). • International community/funding partners/donors • Technical experts / consultants • Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations (NGOs/CSOs) • Media, • Political parties, • Voters, etc.

Factors that influence credibility of the electoral process and role of stakeholders

The Legal and Administrative Framework • Legal advice to EMBs, • Constitution (unclear) Govt, Parliament, • Election Law and other • Mediation for consensus related laws building and deadlock breaking, • Electoral Systems (fairness) • Electoral system design expertise (including quota • Structure and introduction, districting) Functioning of EMBs • Review of EMB design, (creating mandate, appointment Independent Electoral procedures, decision and Boundaries making processes Commission)…

Strategic & Operational Planning (technical support & Monitoring) • Planning the electoral cycle, setting the electoral timeline • Budgeting, Funding and Financing • Developing procedures in line with legal requirements • Resource planning and implementation advisory and information sharing in: • Operational planning and contingency • Review of finance and procurement procedures • Operational procedures • Human resource management • Institutionalizing best practices

Training & Education design, plan, implement, monitor & evaluate: • Training & Development – Managerial – Administrative – Operational • Civic Education – Concepts of democracy – Participation & rights – Representation • Voter Information – When, where, how to vote • Staff training needs assessment • Effective training strategy and materials (officials) • Voter Awareness Surveys • Effective civic/voter education strategies, • Production and dissemination of messages • Provide timely support to CSOs

Registration and maintenance of Voters’ Register • Fundamental prerequisite of every election • Types of Voter Registration • Low Tech vs High Tech • Parties’ Registration and Candidate Nominations • Maintaining an accurate, current and comprehensive Voters’ Registers Technical ICT advice, funding, support to: • Conduct continuous or periodic voter registration processes, • Centralize and maintain permanent voters’ database (Kenya), • Registration activities (data -entry, registration kits, delivery and collection of material), • Voter education for Registration

Electoral Campaign Communication, monitoring • Political party liaison • Political party financing • Campaign management • Adherence to and implementation of the Electoral Code of Conduct • Media • Facilitate political dialogue, support preparation of codes of conduct • Expertise to assist in developing transparent financial regulations • Training of political parties on campaign regulations • Training of journalists • Technical assistance for media monitoring projects

Elections day and polling • Code of conduct • Legitimacy? for political parties • Electoral and observers, observation • Credibility and (CSOs/National transparency of International the polling and observers) counting • Political Parties processes (agents) • Security

Verification of Results / Challenges? • • • Strategies of ensuring acceptance Results of results by all parties: Tabulation • Support to tabulation process Preliminary and to secure transmission of Results results Complaints and • Support to Complaints & Appeals process Appeals Announcement of • Parallel Vote Tabulation / Quick Count Results • Support to setting up Media & Petitions – Results Centre Tribunals/courts, streets?

Post-Election Activities • • • Engage stakeholders’ Audits & interest Evaluations • Identify projects based on Recommendati recommendations • Assist maintenance of Capacity institutional memory Development • Staff development Reforms (legal programs and institutional). • Assistance with legal and technical electoral reform

THANK YOU!!! Koki Muli P. O. Box 63291 - 00619 Nairobi, Kenya koki. muli@eliafrica. org koki. muli@gmail. com www. eliafrica. org