The Question

This question was posted on behalf of David Jandura, member of the ACE Practitioners' Network.

My colleagues and I are putting together a guide to provide election officials with a global overview of the best policies and practices in electoral security administration. As part of this research, we would like to understand some of the issues related to the cost of election security for Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs). With that in mind I was wondering if anybody had any knowledge or experience with the following issues for their countries, or ones they have worked in:

1) What body or bodies are responsible for providing security in or around polling stations on Election Day? What was the total cost for these security forces (police, extra security, etc...) during the last election? What percentage of the overall election budget goes to security?

2) How is security at the polling station usually paid for? That is, are security funds part of an EMB's election-year budget or do they reimburse another institution (such as the police) after the election?

3) Without providing specific numbers, do you, in general, feel that election administrators have been spending more on election security forces in recent years, less, or about the same?

Summary of responses
In Bangladesh, it is the EMB that funds all aspects of election-related security and deploys an array of security actors both inside and outside of polling centres, according to a practitioner from the country. In addition, the EMB of Bangladesh is said to have spent around two thirds of its entire budget on security for the 2008 parliamentary elections.

In the case of Tanzania, funding for police officers inside polling stations comes from the EMB, while the remainder of the security operation falls under the government’s budget.

In Nepal, election-related security is the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but in close consultation with the Election Commission. For the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, it is estimated that security costs for the entire election period were roughly equal to those of election management costs. Security is budgeted by the different agencies involved, with the overall budget falling under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A different type of arrangement is exemplified by the 2011 parliamentary elections in Côte d’Ivoire, where security came under the remit of the United Nations mission there.

Examples of related ACE Articles and Resources
Encyclopaedia:
• Focus On: Election and Security
• Security Responsibilities and Planning

• Cost Considerations 

Consolidated replies:
• The role of the police in the electoral process
• UNDP guidelines on prevention of election violence

Names of contributors
1. Staffan Darnolf
2. Idi Boina
3. Carl Dundas
4. Bulbul Ahammad
5. Amon Emmanuel Chaligha
6. Juma Thomas Otieno
7. Kisimba Albert
8. Atem Oben Henry Ekpeni
9. Bhojraj Pokharel
10. David Arabambi
11. Pamela Mapondera

I would strongly recommend that you reach out to Jeff Fischer at Creative Associates. He has done extensive work in this area.

Dans un budget électoral,il faut  et c'est obligatoire de prévoir un chapitre sur la securisation des élections.

Pour mon expérience à l'Etranger, en Amérique latine,nous avons crée ce qu'on appelle des A de sécurité électoral (ASE),avec les casque bleu et de la police civile des missions, nous avions identifier leur mission dans le cadre du processus,et nous avions organisées des formations en casse-cade,sur la sécurisation de toutes les activités des élections à partir de l'inscription des électeurs en vue de mettre de l'ordre, sécuriser la distribution des matériels électoraux, stationner et mettre de l'ordre dans les bureau de vote le jour du scrutin,faire passer les électeurs , sécuriser le ramassage des résultats et des matériaux après les scrutins,........c'est une organisation indépendante former pour le processus électoral.

Quand aux conditions financières, une telle organisation demande beaucoup de moyen, car, après le recrutement, il faut les habiller, les nourrir, les former, l'avantage, c'est une occasion de lutter contre le chômage, avoir des jeunes actifs, et rendre le processus beaucoup plus transparent au lieu d'utiliser les militaires et police de l'Etat, qui ces derniers ne font que du sale boulot, contribuent à la corruption électorale, favorise le pouvoir en place, par conséquent les problèmes se multiplient  la haine prenne de l’ampleur et les conflits augmentent . Pour en finir sur ce point, le paiement dépendrait du coût de la vie, et beaucoup de paramètre économique et financière à prendre en considération.

D'autre part, on peut confier la mission à la gendarmerie nationale ou la police nationale, si elle existe, étant des agents de l'Etat, ils ont besoin des moyens de déplacement et des indemnités juste pour les jours des scrutins, on les forme, et bien sur on identifie précisément la mission à confier pour éviter des dérapage car, des fois, elle abuse de leur pouvoir, ce sont des acteurs parmi d'autres difficile à gérer mais, il faut s'avoir les maîtriser.

Election security costing is always a fascinating issue to deal with. This is so because in some jurisdictions much of general election costs fall not on the EMB but rather on the security apparatus of the State, be it the police authorities, the army, or the special forces etc. However, polling station security costs are usually met by the EMB. In the early 1990s, I did research into the cost of elections in selected Commonwealth countries and discovered then that the EMBs of many countries had no comprehensive election security cost plan, for simply that much of the security costs fell to the budgets of several security outfits throughout the State and subordinate quasi-security entities. Another interesting point was that apart from the UN, many international agencies and NGOs were uninterested in funding most aspects of election security!! Many EMBs in new and emerging democracies have insufficient resources to allocate to election security.

Hello,

I think this is very important part of election. I'm from Bangladesh. My country observed it's 9th parliament election in December,2008. Our Election Commission spend two third of it's whole budget of parliament election for security arrangement. During the election period security is most important for free, fair and credible election. Bangladesh Election Commission manage  all cost of security and all other electoral expenditure form it's own  budget. BEC plan five days security plan for election, two days before election, election day and two days after election day. Our EMB deploy Police, Anser and Village Defense Party(women) in the polling center, RAB(Elite police force), Border Guard Bangladesh and Army outer side of polling center. This outer combined force make a team with an executive/Judicial Magistrate. Besides this arrangement minimum one summary trial mobile court leaded by a Judicial Magistrate are deployed for this five days to implement electoral conduct rule. For this mobilization of high power full summary trial court, the environment of parliament election has completely under control . As a result Bangladesh has observed praise able free, fair and credible parliament election. BEC all following this security system for all local body election and getting good response. 

So, I think it's a good example for any third world country.

Hello,

Security in election management is not restricted to the voting day alone. There is need for security during the voter registration process, during election campaigns, on the voting day, at the tallying centers and during the announcement of results. In all these occassions more than one organization is involved. The EMB, the police as well as other security agencies. Thus, it is not easy for an EMB to budget for all the departments involved. In Tanzania, the EMB (The National Electoral Commission) budgets for police officers that have physical presence at the poling stations while the government takes care of other security related arrangements. Thus, the exact cost of  providing security during the election period has never been compiled.

May I first appreciate my Colleague for this timely and good question for the ACE forum.

In my observation and understanding, Security of any kind is the duty of the state which solely has the mandate of ensuring all citizens are safe. Security plays a greater role in the state existence and recognition in the international fora. For economic, social activities, and political where election falls to be properly functional, security apparatus must be well provided and on alert.

In election matters then, having realized that the safety of all persons, activities, and properties within any country is the prerogative of its security, then it is good to realize that security is a precursor to any good elections since with it comes other issues like credibility among others. You will find it hard convincing people of credibility when even strategic materials get lost.

In my country Kenya, the handling of security costs has been that they are paid when budgets are favourable for the election period. Their tasks spread in the wider electoral cycle since it is not an essential service for voting only. May I say that payment for this service rendered should not be uniform as that of say clerks during VR. Why? Because, the security are on duty throughout for the state and among many duties under this include election exercise.

Although when the funds are very available, EMBs should not hesitate to pay our security for their services as a motivation. On the other hand, when these persons charged with this noble task join the EMBs for a task/event at hand, they become electoral officials and this guarantees why they need to be paid. Am far from suggesting or proposing a figure though what I know, in Kenyan scenario, we have paid them in the past. Each EMBs should do what is applicable within its budget and the guidelines covering their relations with their security.

La sécurité électorale a trois grandes phases :

1.       La préparation du processus (sécurité du personnel et des biens meubles et immeubles  de la commission) ;

2.       L’impression et l’acheminement du matériels sensible (bulletin de vote, encre indélébile..) et non sensible (urne, isoloir…) vers les bureaux ou centre de vote et ;

3.       Le jour du vote et de dépouillement.

En ayant juste a l’esprit ces trois phases, qui montre que la sécurité prend une part importante dans le processus, il convient d’y réserver une  rubrique dans le budget électoral ou dans celui de l’Etat ;

Force est de constater que dans plusieurs pays visités cette rubrique est souvent renvoyer aux donateurs extérieurs qui ne mesure pas souvent l’ampleur du travail sur le terrain, tout en étant d’accord avec eux que cela devrait, comme dit plus haut , relevé de la souveraineté des pays organisateurs.

Cette question est capitale et nécessite une prise de conscience certaine pour tous les OGE et surtout les pays qui organisent les élections.

The issue of electoral security I should say depends on the environment in which the election is conducted. Security during the 2011 Ivorian Parliamentary elections was assured by ONUCI, in Cameroon by the state and in other countries by the EMB. Security plans in each of the context may differ as communication and capacity play a key role.

In my opinion, electoral security stretches from voter registration to the proclamation of results and even beyond and each phase require distinct security plans as they deployment plan may not be same during voter registration and transportation of electoral materials. For such plans to work, the EMB and security providers must collaborate to plan, coordinate and communicate effectively. In my experience, I find it very difficult for an EMB to take charge of security without the real involvement of top security officials who have direct command over their subjects.

Based on my Nepal’s experiences I am sharing you the following information,

1) Security is the responsibility of the government (Ministry of Home (Inland security) in Nepal. But the security plan is developed in close consultation with the Election Commission. Under the chair of one of the Commissioner security committee is established in the commission where all the chiefs /representatives of the security agencies are also as its member. The security budget is not within the budget of the Commission, but the commission facilitates for it wherever necessary. Its overall budget is directly mobilized by the Ministry of home. In 2008’s Constituent Assembly elections (post conflict election) it was estimated that security cost was close to election management cost. But this cost does not include only for polling day which includes from the campaign period to post election period.

2) Security budget are directly handled by different agencies involved (Ministry of Home, Ministry of Defense, Police, CID, etc). Security related such budgets are directly allocated/disbursed by the Ministry of Finance to these agencies.

3) All it depends on the context and the ground reality. Security cost vastly differs between a normal condition's election and in a conflict or post-conflict environment.

 The issue of security of people and properties is of paramount importance in elections especially in young democracy.The more efficient and organised an EMB and its major client(political parties) are, the less the need for the involvement of security agents whose prensence during elections may be very intimidating to eligible voters and consequently prefer not to come out to exercise their civic right.

 This explains why the cost of security is very high and also why many agents of security are usually involved. For example,apart from the police,civil defence, road safety,immigration and fire fighting agents,the military is also used to provide security during elections.

 While I can not give specific amount spent on securiy during each election,it is pertinent to give an insight here. For example, in a recently governorship election in Nigeria where there were 2,627 polling units, 1,651,099 registered voters and 647,698 turnout of voters , apart from 13,135 policemen, 3,500 soldiers and other security agents were deployed. From the above figures, one can easily observe two things-(1)too many security agents for just one governorship election which is just a minute fragment of nationwide general election. (2)low percentage of voters turnout (39.23%) assuming a very high reliability of the voter registers.

 As regards funding of security during elections and related activities,this is usually built into the EMB's general and possible by-elections budget.

 In conclusion my dear colleagues, the amount being spent on elections may have a lot to do with the level of credibility of not only an EMB but also our major and closest customer-the political partiies. An EMB must not only be credible, it must be seen to be so,by a very high percentage of voters and other stakeholders.

The issue of security during election is essential to maintain peace as well as provide security for election materials and polling centres. Funding like most EMBs across Africa is part of an election budget which is funded by the state just like the day-to-day activities of the EMB.

Pamela Mapondera