The vote
counting and tallying of the results is particularly sensitive and vulnerable
to misuse and manipulation. It usually takes place immediately after polling
stations close. Vote counting and result tallying are very complex processes
and thus prone to human error. In most cases, errors in vote counting and
tabulation will disadvantage some parties more than others, and it may be hard
to establish whether the error is a consequence of human error or a deliberate
act. In cases where political actors, civil society and international observers
are obstructed in their work, suspicions may build to the point where this has
the potential to deepen conflicts and lead to violence.
Empirical cases:
- Mongolia
parliamentary election 2008.
The vote counting and reporting process was very lengthy, primarily due to high
voter turnout and the large number of voters assigned to each voting station.
The delay aroused people’s distrust and contributed to a perception of
electoral fraud, thereby triggering violent protests that resulted in the
destruction of the incumbent government’s party headquarters as well as 60
civilian and police casualties, among them five fatalities, during an ensuing
period of state of emergency.[1]
Interrelated factors: inadequate electoral administrative
rules (internal); environmental hazards (external).[2]
