In
every jurisdiction there are basic criteria and procedures for vote counting
that the electoral management body needs to adopt and implement, to ensure that
vote counting is accurate and a true reflection of the votes cast by the
voters.
Simplicity of the counting system
Counting
rules should be clear, known in advance, and understood by everyone involved in
the election, including election officials, the general public, political
parties, candidates, non- governmental organizations, and national and
international electoral observers.
In
addition to this, some jurisdictions have legislated processes that need to be
adhered to in the vote counting process. Also, it is desirable that information
and training programmes on the count itself be provided to all participants in
the electoral process, these include vote counting officers, electoral
officials, political parties, candidates, international and national observers
and the media.
Counting
rules, including criteria for rejecting ballots, should be clear, agreed upon
and known in advance, and understood by everyone involved in the election,
including election officials, the general public, political parties,
candidates, non-governmental organizations, and national and international
electoral observers.
Checks and balances in the vote counting process
Clear
responsibility and accountability for each stage of the counting process are important.
At the national level, the electoral management body should be accountable. At
the electoral district level, it may be a senior election officer or commission
official.
At
voting stations, specified voting station officers may be responsible for voting
and counting. Clearly defined complaints and appeals processes are also
important. There should be structures in place with the authority and
competency to address complaints and appeals. These may include political party
liaison committees, conflict management and resolution bodies and legal
structures.
Observers,
both national and international, and the media, can play an important role in
the oversight of the counting process and provide an essential perception that
the counting takes place in an open and transparent manner. Clear audit trails
are essential in ensuring accountability.
Competent and well trained staff
The
success of vote counting rests on the competency, professionalism and
non-partisan conduct of the counting officers. Best practice requires that
counting staff undergo vigorous recruitment and training.
Men and
women should be recruited on an equal basis, according to their ability to
carry out the duties required in an unbiased and professional manner. Other
criteria may include speaking at least one of the local languages and previous
electoral experience.
In a
jurisdiction that is emerging from conflict, these requirements may not be
appropriate and it may be expedient to have people from outside the area
working as voting station and counting staff. Some jurisdictions require that
voting station staff be qualified voters and/or live within the same electoral
district where they will be working on Election Day. These criteria should be
publicized and known to all candidates and political parties to ensure the
transparency of the process.
The
electoral laws may restrict who can be recruited as counting staff. In some
jurisdictions, counting staff is nominated by political parties in proportion
to the number of votes or seats won at the previous election.
The
parties draw up lists and refer the names of acceptable personnel to the
responsible local election official. Workers who are nominated by a political
party, but appointed by the local electoral management body, must agree to
carry out all their duties in a neutral and non- partisan manner.
The
level of training provided to voting station and/or counting staff will vary
according to local conditions and the seniority of their position. Local
election officials, electoral managers in charge of counting and counting
centres, usually receive more detailed training than more junior counting
officers.
Senior
officials should be trained well before voting day. Ideally, junior officials
should be trained before voting day, with a briefing session on voting day,
before voting starts.
Where
voting station officials conduct counting, training for the count will take
place in conjunction with training for voting. A typical training programme for
senior officials will include face-to-face training conducted by a qualified
instructor, audio/visual training aides (if available), training manuals, and
simulation exercises.
In some
cases, voting station staff will receive training manuals to read and sample
exercises to complete at home before attending training. More junior officials
can be trained in a similar manner, or trained by their supervisors after the
supervisors have been appropriately trained.
Conducting
a counting simulation is a very effective learning tool, which helps to
visualize the counting process, and pre-empt problems that may arise, by
including examples of ballots that may be open to objection, and by practicing
filling in forms.
It is
desirable to make attendance at training a mandatory condition of employment of
counting staff. In order to encourage people to attend training, it is usual to
pay them an appropriate allowance or fee.
In some
countries, professional trainers will be used instead of the local election
officials to conduct voting station and counting staff training sessions.
Sometimes a small group of professional trainers will train other trainers, who
will then go into the field to conduct the training directly to the voting
station and counting staff on behalf of the electoral management body.
Processes for appeal and review
In
addition to being able to object to a decision of the counting officer during
verification and reconciliation, sorting and counting, it is important that
political parties and candidates are given an opportunity to appeal to higher
authorities.
The
legislation may provide for appeal and review mechanisms to the most senior
structure within the electoral management body, to be decided within a defined
time period, and the decision to be conveyed to the person bringing the appeal
or review.
A further
appeal to the decision of the electoral management body may go to the ordinary
court structure or to a specially convened electoral tribunal or court, such as
an electoral court, staffed with qualified, non-partisan judges.
After
the appeal is introduced, the legislation should stipulate a time period
wherein a decision should be made or those who appeal shall receive a response
on the status of their appeal. If legislation allows for an indefinite period,
the uncertainty of electoral result may result in conflict and violence.
