Electoral training and information refer to the building of understanding, knowledge, skills and capacities of different electoral actors in relation to electoral processes. Voter information aims to disseminate relevant information about the electoral process to voters. As a general rule, training is provided to all who have specific tasks in respect to implementation, security, observation or reporting on electoral processes. Given the complexity and sensitivity of electoral processes, it is of great importance that all actors are acquainted with the procedures and have relevant, timely and accurate information, in particular about the registration and polling and counting processes. When elections are organized in conflict-prone societies, electoral training and information should also enhance the awareness and sensitivity of electoral officials, security sector agencies and civil society groups with respect to specific electoral risks and prevention and mitigation strategies. Training and information efforts should be maintained throughout the electoral cycle.

A.      Improved electoral management and justice

Election officials should undertake continuous professional development programmes. During an election year, EMBs will engage a large number of temporary staff to conduct voter registration or to perform polling and/or counting duties. In some countries it is customary to engage public servants to act as polling station and counting officials. In others, temporary staff are recruited for this purpose. Newly recruited officials may not have prior experience or understanding about electoral processes and therefore require intensive training. New electoral rules and regulations will increase the training needs of experienced personnel. An EMB should also provide training to other stakeholders, such as political parties, the media and civil society organizations, who engage in observing or reporting about electoral processes. Furthermore, an EMB should ensure that all citizens are well informed about timelines and procedures through a far-reaching information campaign. These measures will help avoid technical problems that may harm the credibility of electoral processes, raise tensions and lead to violence.

• Ensure that the training for election officials is of high standard and timely
  
  Training of electoral officials entails training in procedures and standards of professional conduct.^[1] Adequate knowledge and skills reduce the likelihood of procedural mistakes being made. Training can be implemented at two levels. For permanent electoral officials, training should be a part of professional development. The most comprehensive professional development course is the Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) project.^[2] Training for the temporary staff should be implemented before they are assigned to do specific electoral work. Depending on their specific role, training topics may include registration of voters, political parties and independent candidates, and observers; external voting; polling and counting; electoral security; human rights, including gender-participation; conflict resolution; and so on. The training methodology for temporary staff may involve cascade training which can be multiplied at different levels so that it is more cost-effective, and it is possible to train a large number of staff members.^[3]
  The Mexican EMB, the Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE), ensures high-quality training for randomly selected polling station officials. Mexican elections are highly contested, and the winning margins between presidential candidates were very narrow during the general elections in 2006 and 2012. Such outcomes have raised tensions and led to street protests in 2006.^[4] Large-scale recounts were undertaken by the IFE to ensure that the credibility of the election results was upheld in 2012. In this context, it is critical that election officials in charge of the polling and counting processes perform well and impartially. The IFE therefore puts much effort and resources into ensuring that polling station officers, who are drawn at random from the voter register, and without the intervention of any political party, are properly instructed and trained.^[5] The most important thing is to ensure the credibility of each of the polling stations.^[6] The training programme has a cascade scheme. The electoral supervisors (ESs) and the electoral assistant trainers (EATs) are selected, hired and trained at the district level. The ESs coordinate, support and verify the electoral training and assistance activities implemented by the EATs. The EATs inform selected citizens about their assignments and duties and train them in the polling and counting procedures. Furthermore, EATs are responsible for the proper installation and functioning of the polling stations. The ESs are hired for five months and the EATs for around two weeks.^[7]

• Provide electoral training at the national and sub-national level to political party representatives, the media, CSOs and electoral observers

Political parties have high stakes in electoral processes and are therefore greatly interested in following different electoral activities in order to verify their quality and integrity. Civil society organizations and other national and international actors may also be interested in observing different electoral activities. Furthermore, journalists are involved in providing media coverage of electoral processes. To avoid misunderstandings, tensions, unfounded complaints and sensationalist media reporting, an EMB should organize training for the key external stakeholders. This type of training can be tailored to address the needs of the specific stakeholder. Among other things, it can include topics about electoral rights and duties, technical procedures, dispute resolution mechanisms, gender equality and participation, diversity perspectives in electoral processes and so on.

The National Election Commission conducts extensive training for external actors ahead of the 2010 general elections in Sudan. Following the peace agreement between the government of Sudan and the People’s Liberation Movement in 2005, Sudan organized its first multiparty elections in 2010. Ahead of the elections, the National Election Commission (NEC), supported by the UNDP, organized an extensive training programme for political party representatives, female political candidates, state prosecutors, representatives from civil society organizations, journalists and electoral observers.^[8] About 140 political party agents attended a training workshop on their roles during polling. Specific topics included parallel vote tabulation, polling regulations and the importance of monitoring. Workshops for female political candidates were organized in five states in northern Sudan with a focus on campaigning, agenda setting, and intimidation and violence.^[9]

• Design and conduct a timely voter information campaign that is gender-sensitive and far-reaching in respect to diversity and citizens with special needs

Voter information is provided by electoral management bodies. The aim is to provide relevant information about electoral processes to citizens. This information primarily includes details on when, where and how to register and vote. Sometimes voter information may encompass elements of voter education and address issues relating to human rights, such as the rights to elect representatives freely, to gender equality, and to freedom from harassment and intimidation.^[10] It is also useful to inform voters on how to submit electoral complaints. In conducting an information campaign, an EMB may benefit from partnership with civil society groups. Information and educational activities should be designed to reach remote communities and overcome language, literacy and disability barriers.

A far-reaching voter information and education campaign is organized in Yemen prior to the 2006 elections. During the 2001 local council elections in Yemen, 67 people were killed and more than 100 wounded.^[11] Ahead of the 2006 elections, the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER), with the support of the UNDP, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and other international assistance providers, implemented a national voter information and education campaign in order to increase citizens’ information, participation and confidence in the election. This included the use of radio and television and the production and dissemination of a range of printed materials, including booklets, posters, stickers, banners, fact sheets and taxi advertising. The information included electoral laws/rights, election logistics and the importance of participation among marginalized groups such as women, ethnic minorities, young people and persons with disabilities.^[12] The outreach activities were directed at communities living in rural areas who lacked access to traditional sources of voter education information such as radio or television. Twenty CSOs conducted face-to-face campaigning. The aim was to enable citizens to make informed decisions about the registration and election day processes and to provide them with accurate, culturally sensitive and timely information about these processes. This gave marginalized groups, especially in rural locations, an opportunity to obtain electoral information in a simple format and receive immediate answers to their questions.^[13]

An inclusive and collaborative voter education campaign was implemented in Myanmar for the 2015 elections. The 2015 elections in Myanmar represented a historic step in the country’s transition from five-decades of military dictatorship to a civilian-led government. While this democratic transition was simultaneously evolving with the country’s ongoing peace process, observers were concerned about possible tensions as 92 political parties vied for seats in the national and state/regional legislatures. The Union Election Commission (UEC) implemented a nationwide voter education campaign designed to include voters that were viewed as traditionally marginalized and worked collaboratively with civil society organizations to reach voters throughout the country. The campaign was based on conflict assessments and national survey data so as to accurately respond to how voters received information and what information voters needed prior to election day. The materials were developed to be culturally sensitive, reflecting Myanmar’s diverse population, and were translated into 16 different ethnic languages.

B.         Improved electoral security

Electoral training for the security sector personnel will contribute to their professionalism and sensitivity when engaging during elections. A curriculum that could be used to train police in electoral security practices may include the following topics: (a) the nature of the electoral legislation and an overview of the electoral process; (b) the role of the police in supporting the democratic process; (c) human rights issues in relation to the police’s role; (d) the police’s role in an election; (e) security objectives and strategy in relation to the election; (f) the standards of professional, neutral and non-intimidating conduct to be upheld by police forces during the election; (g) contact mechanisms and liaison details (on an as-needed basis) between the electoral commission and police forces; (h) details of specific offences against electoral laws; and (i) details of other laws such as those regarding public gatherings that will have an impact on police planning.^[14] In particular, training should focus on an enhanced understanding of the roles and responsibilities of electoral actors, electoral offences and professional standards.

• Conduct electoral training for security sector agencies to enhance and build understanding of the electoral process, the roles and rights of electoral actors, and electoral offences

In addition to having clarity about their roles and mandates during elections, security officers need to be aware of the roles and mandates of other stakeholders, including elected officials, political party candidates and election observers. Security personnel should be able to understand voters’ rights and electoral offences and be able to differentiate between sensitive and non-sensitive materials. Training should be intended for the leadership as well as national and local security personnel.^[15] Training will have the greatest impact when all relevant national institutions are involved in its planning and implementation and when it is organized well in advance of elections.^[16]

The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) and Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) formally coordinate the training of police on their roles during the electoral process for the October 2018 presidential election. For the third election in a row, the CEC and MIA signed a memorandum of understanding on electoral security outlining their coordination of communication and activities including training. This cooperation was brought about through encouragement from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) during its “Enabling a Peaceful Environment to Administer Credible Elections” (ePeace) training program which provides police and election management bodies with improved knowledge of the security challenges unique to elections and the skills to more effectively play their roles in the electoral process.[17] This training resulted in the first memorandum of understanding for the 2016 national parliamentary elections.

Large-scale electoral security training is implemented ahead of the Ghanaian general elections in 2012. Ghana experienced a peaceful transition of power after the 2008 general elections. However, the capacity of the police to respond to election-related violence remained a concern.^[18] Prior to the 2012 general elections, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) supported the national electoral security training programme that was implemented in all ten regions of the country using a train-the-trainer methodology. Approximately 16,000 security officers from the Ghanaian police, the fire service, and the prisons and immigration services were trained. The training was designed to acquaint the officers with the electoral laws, public order management and intelligence gathering in order to prevent election-related violence from occurring. The training in public order management was designed to assist in effective and professional handling of crowd-related violence and introduced international standards of policing to ensure peaceful and violence-free elections. The training included field and simulation exercises on problem solving related to election violence.^[19]

Security sector agencies, together with the Election Commission of Ghana, conduct an election security exercise ahead of the 2012 general elections. Some parts of Ghana experienced election-related violence during the 2012 general elections, including assaults, shootings and arson.^[20] A simulation exercise covering election day operations, including election security, was undertaken in the city of Ho shortly before the 2012 general elections. The Volta Regional Task Force, together with the Election Commission of Ghana and the National Commission for Civic Education, coordinated the exercise. It was focused on the escorting of election materials and simulations in which the police had to foil the ‘snatching of ballot boxes’ and detain suspects.^[21] Similar simulation exercises were conducted in other parts of the country to demonstrate the readiness of the security agencies ahead of election day.^[22]

• Reinforce security sector agencies’ professional standards

Training for security sector agencies should emphasize professional standards and values that sustain the democratic nature of electoral processes and SSAs’ own legitimacy. These include neutrality, transparency, consistency in the application of the law and non-intimidating behaviour, as well as cooperation with other electoral actors.^[23] In addition to training, police officers can be provided with a pocket book that contains all relevant instructions relating to professional standards when engaging in electoral processes.

The Ugandan police and Electoral Commission work together to produce professional guidelines for the conduct of election day. During its general elections in 2006, Uganda experienced incidents of election-related violence involving the police and the main opposition party following the rejection of the election results.^[24] Ahead of the 2011 general elections in Uganda, the police force, with the support of the Electoral Commission and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, provided pocket-sided ‘guidelines for law enforcement officials during the national elections’ to police officers.^[25] The document sets out the professional standards for security officials with an emphasis on political neutrality and discipline. References were made to the constitution and the electoral legal framework with an emphasis on the rule of law and human rights, as well as law enforcement standards. In addition, the document provided information on the responsibility of the Electoral Commission in managing the elections.

C.         Improved infrastructure for peace

The capacity of different non-state and state actors to engage effectively in the prevention and mitigation of election-related violence may be contingent on their understanding of the legal and operational aspects of electoral processes. These actors should therefore be acquainted with the election rules and regulations. This can be achieved through training initiatives implemented in collaboration with electoral management bodies at the national and sub-national level. Once familiarized with electoral processes, these organizations may be well positioned to engage in designing and implementing conflict-sensitive electoral training, and information and education programmes for communities that experience conflicts and for women and other marginalized groups.

• Ensure that all non-state actors which form an integral part of the national infrastructure for peace are familiarized with electoral processes, including timelines, procedures, and operational plans.

The national infrastructures for peace may include actors with extensive experience in conflict prevention and resolution, such as peace builders, mediators, reconciliation experts and similar organizations. However, conflict prevention practitioners may lack a good understanding of the operational and legal aspects of electoral processes and the specifics relating to electoral security. To apply their skills in electoral processes effectively and contribute in the prevention and mitigation of election-related violence, these agencies need capacity-building training in electoral issues. This training can be implemented with the support of an EMB and security sector agencies at the national and sub-national level.

The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy (EISA) trains conflict mediators on electoral processes in Kenya ahead of the 2013 General Elections[26]. The violence that flared up after the presidential elections in Kenya in 2007 provides the background to this effort to build the capacity of peacebuilding actors to mediate election-related conflicts. EISA conducts such trainings since the inception of its Election Conflict Management Panels in South Africa in 1999.[27] If needed, the training aims to improve conflict resolution and mitigation skills, on the one hand, addressing psychosocial dimensions of conflicts. On the other hand, the sessions inform participants about the legal framework and the procedures of elections in the respective country.

• Train the conflict mediation personnel at the level of local communities

Effective conflict prevention and resolution can take different forms in different societies. In some national contexts, conflict prevention and resolution at the local level may benefit from the traditional dispute resolution mechanisms and institutions that involve traditional leaders, such as traditional chiefs or reputable individuals. Religious institutions in particular may have an infrastructure that enables access to different communities. Cooperation with traditional leaders in the area of voter education may be very effective. Cultural sensitivity as well as respect and appreciation for their contribution are central to making such cooperation work. At the same time, if cultural and religious organizations practise exclusivity and intolerance, additional measures to promote dialogue and social cohesion will be needed.^[28]

Mediation training is organized in the context of Guinea’s 2010 presidential elections. In 2010, Guinea organized the first free presidential elections since independence in 1958. Ahead of the election, mediation training workshops were organized in different parts of the country.^[29] participants represented civil society organizations, women and youth groups, elders and religious leaders, political parties, the election commission and the security sector forces. The workshops allowed the participants to familiarize themselves with the electoral legislative framework, conflict analysis, the electoral cycle, and mediation techniques and methods. Lessons learned from Kenya, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo were presented by experts from International Alert, Swisspeace, and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA).^[30] Practical training methods such as role play were also used. Some reports suggest that the mediation training did help to de-escalate conflicts and stop them becoming violent in a number of cases around the country before, during and after election day.^[31]

Equipping society to demand peaceful elections in Bangladesh. While most Bangladeshi citizens desire more peaceful elections, violence is so prevalent that it has come to be accepted and tolerated as a natural part of politics. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) conducted the People Against Violence in Elections (PAVE) training and peace initiative for over 1,000 political and civil society leaders to build their capacity to engage in community-level peacebuilding around elections. PAVE equips these leaders – including political party advocates, elected representatives, women’s leaders, journalists and students – with the skills to understand election violence, engage in cross-party collaboration on conflict-related issues, and implement peacebuilding that creates public demand for peaceful and violence-free elections. Participants worked together to create a network of “Peace Ambassadors” (Shani Dut Gon) through which they conducted community-level advocacy both within their core communities and across political, demographic, religious, and other lines; implemented grassroots peacebuilding activities which created opportunities to build consensus; and fostered dialogue between civil society, political parties and law enforcement representatives, among other electoral stakeholders.^[32]

• Design and implement electoral training, information and education activities targeting high-risk areas

Civil society organizations are well positioned to work with EMBs and implement programmes relating to electoral training, information and education at the grass-roots level. The added value of such work may be particularly visible when it is done in regions that face increased inter/intra-communal tensions and gender-based violence and discrimination.

Civil society promotes civic education in conflict-prone areas of West and East Africa. The participants in the Tostan human rights-based education programme receive civic education to organize drama events for entire villages in order to disseminate messages on election procedures. Furthermore, Tostan participants organize radio broadcasts on a range of civic education issues with a conflict and violence prevention potential. This has been the case in various countries such as the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, and Somalia, where Tostan has been operating during election periods and beyond through its Community Empowerment Programme.^[33]