Election day
operations are designed to facilitate the process of casting a ballot for all
eligible voters. The level of participation and time constraints make election
day operations very complex. In many countries, more than half of the
population will vote on election day. This process is managed by a large number
of male and female electoral management officials and staff and the security
sector agencies’ personnel. Political parties, civil society groups and
international organizations provide a presence in electoral facilities across
the country to scrutinize and testify to the integrity of the voting process.
Problems and
irregularities that take place on election day have effects that are difficult
to repair afterwards. If the margin of victory is expected to be narrow, even
the smallest irregularity or perception of irregularity may spark conflict and/or
violent reactions. Due to the short time in which voting takes place, problems
that emerge on election-day may be compounded during the days following the
actual voting.
Empirical cases:
- Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia municipal elections 2000. International observers reported
several irregularities during election day. In a number of cases, ballot boxes
were destroyed, thereby preventing voters from casting their ballot. In the
municipality of Debar, all 24 polling stations had to close due to violent
incidents such as threats against election officials. In other municipalities
voting had to be temporarily suspended in order to restore order.[1]
Interrelated factors: poor socio-economic conditions (external);[2]
social and political exclusions (external); the
presence of organized crime (external); the presence
of non-state armed actors (external).[3]
