(Continued from
# 13(331), 14(332), 15(333))
D. Voter Education
The Central Election Commission has a mandate to inform the voters about the electoral process. A booklet with election information was printed in two languages by the Central Election Commission and delivered to each voter by the precinct commission. Moreover, an invitation with the location of the relevant polling station was delivered to each voter. For the most part, these were delivered some days prior to the voting.
The Central Election Commission also printed posters with biographical information about the candidates. These were posted at the precinct election commissions. The CEC intended that the posters would remain in the polling station during the voting. However, many commissions considered them to be campaign materials and removed them. This was another case of the CEC�s instructions not getting to local commissions.
Legal requirements to publish lists of the polling stations and the names of commission members were complied with as required.
Television and radio spots with voting information were prepared by the CEC and broadcast on various stations. Several NGOs and public associations were also involved in raising awareness and disseminating information about the electoral process. The intimidation and pressure to vote for a particular candidate, which was reported to the Mission, may have been lessened if there had been more information about the secrecy of the vote.
VI. Election Day
For the most part, the voting was calm and orderly. At many polling stations a festive atmosphere prevailed with music, dancing and food available. It was also noted that snow and ice had been removed from steps and a general cleaning and decorating of the premises made the polling stations more inviting.
Mission members visited about 100 polling stations including military barracks, a hospital and a detention (remand) centre. There was often a representative from the akimat at the polling station who appeared to control the process. This person also �advised� the voters about which candidate they should mark on the ballot paper. It would have assisted the voters if the polling station commission members had worn identification badges or some other form of identification to distinguish them from other persons in the polling station. Several reports from voters were received by the mission, which alleged various problems during the voting.
A. Turnout
It was difficult to gauge the level of turnout because proxy voting appeared to be widespread as well as instances of members of the polling station commissions voting for those who did not come to vote. Moreover, the numbers of names added to the additional lists were not known. It was reported by Mission members that in the stations they visited, the numbers of additions ranged from 5% to 15% of the voter lists. The official turnout figures may not accurately reflect the number of voters who did attend the polling station to vote.
B. Polling Station Procedures
a) Layout of the polling station: In many cases the layout of the polling station did not allow for transparency of the process. The ballot box was often behind the polling booths so that neither the commission members nor observers could see it. There was no control over the number of ballot papers placed in the ballot box or any way to see if voters left the polling station with the ballot paper. A standard for the polling station layout needs to be prepared by the CEC, with sample layouts included in a manual of procedures.
b) Identification of voters: The law requires that the voter show an identification document before receiving a ballot paper [Art. 41 (3)]. The polling station commissions often neglected this requirement.
c) Ballot papers: Some voters fear that ballot papers can be traced as they have to sign the register and commission members sign the ballot. Although this does not make the ballot paper traceable, there is an appearance that it does. A unique stamp for each polling station, instead of signatures on the ballot paper, would invite more trust. The ballot paper could then be stamped before it is given to the voter. Under the current procedures, some commission members were signing all the ballots before the voting started, presumably to save time. This meant that ballot papers were signed which might not be needed and left the question of what would happen to them at the end of the voting period. Some voters were also convinced that pencils were provided to mark the ballot papers so that they could be erased and changed later. Letting the voters use pens could ease this concern .
d) Proxy voting: The law is very clear that the voter must vote in person and that no person may vote in place of another [Art. 41 (1,2)]. The practice of a voter signing for several ballots appeared, however, to be widespread. One team from the Mission saw proxy voting at all of the fifteen polling stations visited, with one voter being given twenty ballot papers in one instance. Family voting was also allowed in some polling stations. Several family members would enter one polling booth together, thus compromising the secrecy of the ballot. There appear to be examples of commission members doing �as they have always done� as opposed to following the law and the instructions of the CEC.
e) Advance voting: Voters who know ahead of time that they will not be able to vote in person on election day can vote in advance. The ballot paper is marked and placed in an envelope, which is sealed. It is held by the commission until election day when it is put into the ballot box [Art. 41 (8)]. In some areas the ballots were not delivered to the precinct commission until the day before voting, precluding an advance vote in those areas. In others, the precinct commission did not seem to be aware of the process and told voters to vote by certificate or by mobile box. These procedures need to be clarified in the training for election commission members.
f) Certificate voting: Voters who cannot vote on election day because they have changed the place of residence can apply to vote in the new location. The voter is given a certificate to allow him/her to vote at the new precinct polling station. [Art. 41 (7)]. The name is removed from the original voters� list and added to the additional list in the place of new residence. It was observed that the commission members did not collect these certificates when they were presented on election day. There was no control over these additions to the voter lists to ensure that double voting did not occur.
g) Mobile boxes: Voters who cannot get to the polling station for reasons of health can apply to have the ballot paper and ballot box brought to their residence [Art. 41 (6)]. Mobile boxes were used in institutions such as hospitals as well as in remote villages. This was a special procedure that appears to have been abused. Some voters reported that the mobile box had been brought to their homes even though they had not applied for it. It seems that it was done to ensure that anyone who did not come to the polling station did vote. There were also reports that precinct election commission members filled in applications and voted in the names of those who did not come to vote.
(To be continued)
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