Electoral integrity requires an atmosphere free of fear, intimidation or manipulation on election day. Security during the election process is critical, especially during voting, vote counting and transmission of the results. A peaceful election environment facilitates a free, fair and credible election, and tranquil conditions in and around voting sites lessens problems that could compromise voter confidence, integrity of records, turnout or election results.
Voters must be able to vote without fear and monitors must be able to observe without intimidation. Candidates must be able to campaign without the fear that their supporters will be harmed or even killed. To ensure integrity, electoral administrators need to be able to plan and conduct elections without interference, and election materials must be safeguarded from tampering that would change the election outcome.
Maintaining physical security for elections is the responsibility of the government, which usually assigns this task to the civilian police force. Security measures vary by country and circumstances. For integrity purposes, law enforcement related to elections must be neutral and impartial, also ensuring a fair trial for suspected offenders.
Good Security Planning
Adequate security requires good planning. This first step involves identifying vulnerable stages in the electoral process and the physical sites that need protection. The next steps include developing protective measures and implementing a security plan.
A security plan may be enhanced by good coordination between the election management body and law enforcement agencies. A joint security plan might be developed and a coordination mechanism established to facilitate information sharing and decision making at the national, regional and local levels of all institutions.
Neutrality of Security Officers
Good election security relies on the neutrality and professionalism of enforcement officers. They must respect the law and citizens’ constitutional and civil rights, and not become co-opted by the campaign or agenda of any political party or candidate. Security officers must refrain from using excessive force or violence.
In some systems, especially in post-conflict societies, security problems may arise from police misconduct. This may give rise to an atmosphere of insecurity, adversely influencing or even disrupting the election.
Protection of Polling Sites
Adequate physical security for electoral sites and the election officers working there creates an environment in which the process can be administered in a neutral and unobstructed manner. Disturbance or theft of electoral supplies and equipment could undermine the integrity of the process. Site security may be enhanced by requiring officials and staff as well as other people accredited to enter to wear identification badges, if possible incorporating photographs. Accredited observers and monitors should also wear badges indicating that they are allowed to enter electoral facilities during sensitive stages of the election process.
Order needs to be maintained at polling stations on election day. In some countries, this is a mainly a job for the police. But indirect measures may also be taken, such as closing bars and liquor stores during as well as immediately before and after voting hours. In the Philippines, it is actually illegal to serve, sell, buy or consume alcoholic beverages on election day.
Firearms are prohibited within a certain distance of polling stations in most countries. Some systems designate a person responsible for security at each polling site. The voting committee chair arranges controls for access to the facility, implemented by a member of the committee or a security officer, who allows a limited number of voters into the polling station at one time and helps keep the voters’ queue orderly.
Protection of Electoral Materials
To safeguard electoral integrity, ballots, tally sheets and other sensitive electoral materials must be protected from destruction or tampering. Ballot tracking is facilitated in most systems by the use of stubs numbered in sequence. The way ballots are packed may also assist security. If ballots are in separate tamper-proof or tamper-evident packages, the right amount can be distributed to each polling station without any need to open and reseal the packages. Storage and distribution are also facilitated if the ballot packages for each electoral district are placed in sealed containers, with serial numbers and polling site locations marked on the outside. This also minimizes opportunities for mishandling or misdelivery.
The polling site itself needs to be secure enough to protect election materials and ballot boxes. Sometimes losing candidates try to steal or destroy ballot boxes after the polls have closed to invalidate the results. Sometimes ballot boxes are stuffed or switched after voting ends. These tactics can be detected with the use of seals on ballot boxes, and with continuous monitoring by political party representatives and observers.
Protection of Candidates, Voters and Monitors
Candidates may be targets for violent acts. Police and other law enforcement agencies may provide candidate protection. Campaign rallies, debates and other public events that attract large numbers of people interested in the campaign are also in need of security.
Voters need to be able to leave their homes and vote without fear of violence in the streets or intimidation at the polling station. Turnout will be lower if voters must pass unruly or threatening partisan groups in order to cast their ballot.
Monitors also require sufficient protection to allowing them to observe the process safely, ask questions and if applicable sign tally sheets without intimidation or fear of retribution. In countries in transition, domestic observers may feel vulnerable to intimidation and violence, especially if they observe problems caused by the ruling party or security forces.
