POLL WATCHING

1. Titi Pitso POLL WATCHING

2. Presentation outline Introduction What is poll watching? The role of poll watching in an election? Electoral stakeholders conducting poll watch? The functions and responsibility of party agents Recruiting, training and deployment The role of party agents during 2009 elections in Malawi Case study � Ghana

3. Introduction Political parties are key players in any election. Political parties have access to all stages of an electoral process and they have a right to question or challenge any stage of an electoral process. It is important for political parties to understand each an every stage of the electoral process. It is more important also for political parties to appoint able political party agents to monitor poll.

4. Introduction cont. �It is important to note that the final election outcome is sum total of all stages. Therefore any irregularities or unfairness must be gathered comprehensively for one to make a realistic assessment� The role of political parties in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process - the case study of poll watching by Adrian Muunga Political party agents are key in the gathering of crucial information during the poll.

5. What is poll watching The purposeful gathering of information regarding an electoral process, and the making of informed judgment on the conduct of such a process on the basis of the information collected, by persons who are authorized to intervene in the process, and whose involvement in the electoral process should not be such as to jeopardize their main monitoring responsibilities�.

6. What is poll watching In Malawi, Section 72 and 73 of the Malawi Electoral Law allows for the appointment of political party representatives to monitor the poll

7.  The role of poll watching in an election? Discourages electoral fraud Ensures the credible conduct of the polling process Facilitate the resolution of disputes at polling stations Brings confidence in the poll and thereby encourages voter participation Encourages the acceptance of election results

8. The role of poll watching in an election cont. exercise the monitoring conscientiously and with objectivity; and avoid unjustifiable interference in the activity at polling stations which disturbs the normal conduct of the vote.

9. Electoral stakeholders conducting poll watch Domestic Observers International Observers Embassies� staff International NGOs Political party agents

10. The Functions and Responsibilities of Party Agents In most countries, political parties and candidates contesting an election have the right to have an agent to observe the process on their behalf at polling stations. In Malawi and as in most countries the functions and responsibilities spelt out in the Malawi Electoral Laws

11. The Functions and Responsibilities of Party Agents (cont�) Generally, party agents have to: be present where the polling station is operating; record observations; consult the voter register at any time; have access to the records of the election operations; launch complaints where necessary;

13. Recruiting, Training and Deployment (cont�) Criteria for Recruiting Party Agents Strong allegiance and loyal support to the party; Basic education and the ability to speak and write the local language of the area where the party agent would be deployed; Knowledge of the area of deployment and of the local cultural and political context;

14. Recruiting, Training and Deployment (cont�) Residence near the stations where he or she will be deployed so that the party agent is known by the voters; The agent should be credible and must have a sound mind; Training and knowledge of the context and of the electoral history is necessary.

15. Recruiting, Training and Deployment (Cont�) Training Methodology Timing of the training; Duration; Content (legal and institutional frameworks, electoral system); Costs.

16. Recruiting, Training and Deployment (Cont�) Critical Factors for Deploying Party Agents Awareness about the importance of training party agents; Mobilising enough funds for training party agents; Involvement of party agents at all stages of the election, beginning with the registration process;

17. Recruiting, Training and Deployment (Cont�) Accreditation of party agents according to the laid-down procedures; Parties/candidates should endeavour to have at least one party agent per polling station.

18. The role of party agents during 2009 elections in Malawi Party agents monitored the poll Some parties had party agents in all the regions while other had parties did not cover the whole country

19. Ghanaian case study Effective training of party agents in Ghana was the order of the day. Party agents played a crucial role in the victory of the National Democratic Convention (NDC) then an opposition party. The Bantama polling station case

20. Conclusion Party agents play a crucial role in the enhancement of any electoral process, the better trained, the more vigilant they become.