The final step in the
electoral process is the official announcement of the election results by the
electoral administrators. To safeguard integrity, the results must accurately
reflect the total vote, taking into account decisions on disputed ballots. Attempting
to tamper with the official results would be a last-ditch effort to subvert the
outcome of an election.[1]
The integrity of the official
results can be protected by applying the same safeguards used to protect the
integrity of the vote. These include putting in place efficient systems with
proper control mechanisms and oversight. Continuous monitoring throughout the
count by observers and monitors can help deter tampering with results. Monitors
and observers can compare their parallel vote count with the official results
and immediately report any discrepancy through the official complaints system
or the press.
Speedy announcement of the
official results is also important. The more time that passes between counting
and release of the results, the more opportunity to attempt to tamper with the
results. A long delay in the release of results, even if they are accurate, may
fuel suspicions that may damage the credibility of the results when they are finally
released.
In South Africa
the timely release of results is ensured by the Electoral Commission, which may
declare the outcome of an election even if it has not received results from all
polling stations, on two conditions:
- Waiting for the results
from every polling station would unduly and unreasonably delay the
determination and declaration of the election outcome; and
- The missing results would
have no influence on the overall election outcome.
Taking
Office
In the final step of a valid
electoral process, the election winner takes office. In the older democracies,
the transfer of power from one elected official to another is routine and not
an issue. But for countries undergoing a transition, this final step may be
difficult and may abort the democratic election process.
In post-conflict societies or
countries with a history of undemocratic rule, it is important to address these
issues in the planning process. If an election is transparent, free, fair and
credible, a loser has fewer excuses for not accepting the results. Accurate
parallel counts by political parties may validate the results, and national and
international election observation may help win acceptance for an election and
its results.
[1] Schedler, Andreas, Distrust Breeds Bureaucracy: The
Formal Regulation of Electoral Governance in Mexico, Mexico City: Facultad Lationamericana de
Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO), 1999, p. 3
