The Question
This question is posted on behalf of Oliver Walton, Research Fellow at the Governance and Social Development Resource Centre.

What is the evidence that professional election security programmes have had a positive impact on elections?

I am asking the question to inform a short piece of research designed to inform decisions surrounding DFID's election programming. I should add that I am interested in the impact of election security programmes in all contexts (although I expect that most of the available studies focus on post-conflict contexts). I am particularly interested in identifying evaluations of professional election security programmes or broader country case studies where support for electoral security has proved particularly effective (or ineffective). The report will be made publicly available on our website (www.gsdrc.org) once it is finished (in a couple of weeks’ time).

Summary of responses
The 2009 presidential elections in Guinea are cited as an example where particular attention was paid to the issue of election security, including the creation of a special electoral security force.

Reference is also made to the 2010 elections in Tanzania and Zanzibar, where election security training was provided to the police in Tanzania, while in Zanzibar, an election security programme and the training of various stakeholders on peaceful elections played a role in the delivering violence-free elections.

Examples of related ACE Articles and Resources
Encyclopaedia:
• Security responsibilities and planning
• Security force training 

Names of contributors
1. Therese Pearce Laanela
2. Chris Kyriakides

I would look closely at the 2009 Presidential Elections in Guinea, when a great deal of effort went into election security spec.  the creation of  a special electoral security force, composed of police and military (I think) with human rights training called Fossepel. While in practice some things went awry - it was all put together at breakneck speed - the idea was sound, and the concerns of violence that prompted its creation were real.

Hi Oliver,

Have a look at the 2010 Elections in Tanzania and Zanzibar -- I was part of UNDP's Election Support Project there. As a starting point, further info can be found in the newsletters of UNDP's Election Support Website -- ESP is officially over; however the website is still active (e.g., see http://www.tz.undp.org/ESP/docs/Newsletters/ESP_Newsletter_No_9_(30_July_2010).pdf and http://www.tz.undp.org/ESP/docs/Newsletters/ESP_Newsletter_No_10_(09_August_2010).pdf )

Extensive support was provided in terms of training of police in human rights; in maintaining public order without the use of lethal weapons; and, in the role of police during elections.

Workshops were also held between the TPF (Tanzanian Police Force) and various stakeholders to promote mutual understanding.   

In the case of the Zanzibar Referendum on July 2010 and the Elections in October 2010. I believe the Zanzibar Elections were the first electoral-violence-free Elections since Independence -- numerous factors are believed to have collectively contributed to this achievement including:

•  the improved role of Police law enforcement;
• an ESP in-house developed transparent Results Management System (RMS);
• Training of political party officials, journalists, CSO's, youth... on peaceful elections
  etc.

Kind regards,

Chris

ps. Coincidentally I was also involved in Phase 1 of the Guinean Election support project (namely, the Voter Registration phase); however, I completed my mission before Phase 2 commenced (i.e., the activities leading up to E-Day so regretfully I cannot add value there)