The Question

This question is posted on behalf of Shahid Iqbal, member of the ACE Practitioners' Network.

In a country where people tend to avoid participation, how could it be possible to popularise domestic election observation among the youth? In what ways can election observation be shown to be interesting, educational, worthy for the future and at the same time not provoking the opposing elements? Further to this, what could be helpful to break the stereotype that election observation is only for mature and experienced men and women?

Summary of responses

The importance of civil society groups (particularly non-partisan ones) in making domestic observation more popular among youth is emphasised.  Faith-based groups and institutions can, for example, play a role in engaging and mobilising youth. Electorally-focused civil society organizations also have an important part to play, as do voter education programmes run by the Election Management Body (EMB). 

The Indonesian election in 1999 is given as an example of large scale youth participation in domestic election observation. The mobilisation of university and student networks is said to have been key in achieving this. The lack of other avenues for youth participation in the electoral process was also important in channelling efforts into observation.

Technology can also be an important tool and the use of social media in particular can be an effective way of engaging youth in the electoral process. In the 2010 Philippine elections, a citizen journalism initiative encouraged citizens to use their smartphones to be ‘i-observers’. Approximately 100,000 people subsequently signed up and submitted reports, some of which were then relayed via both social and traditional media. This initiative succeeded in getting many young citizens both to vote in, and observe, the election.

One reply believes that domestic observation will inevitably face resistance from those who resent the increased level of transparency that is brings.

Examples of related ACE Articles and Resources

Encyclopaedia:

·         Organized National Election Observation

Support and Advice:

·         Domestic Election Observation

Consolidated replies:

·         Smartphone election observation app 

·         Accreditation procedures for domestic observers 

External Resources

· Tracking Social Media: The Social Media Tracking Centre and the 2011 Nigerian Elections, Dr Judith Burdin Asuni & Mrs. Jacquellne Farris, The Shehu Musa Yar' Adua Foundation 

Names of contributors

1.       Kevin Evans

2.       Carl Dundas

3.       Peter Wolf

4.       Idi Boina

5.       Velko Miloev

6.       Abdou Moussa

The experience of Indonesia in 1999 (the first democratic elections in 40 years) was one in which the vast majority of election monitors were young people.

The issue of this being an old man or old women's game probably emerges due to international observation. It may be that in your country earlier elections had international observers, so people have seen this before or they have seen TV coverage on other countries where old foreigners are usually presented to the TV cameras to "pass verdict". Perhaps Indonesia was lucky as there had been no international observation of any of its ore-democratic elections, and local observation was more about NGO profiling the need for the issue of observation than actually mobilising seriously to conduct it.

From memory there were well over 500,000 national observers mobilised for the 199 elections.

It is indeed an excellent way to get young people involved. In Indonesia university campuses and student networks mobilised. Having played a key role in removing the old President they felt the best way to assist moving forward would be to "keep them honest" by observing what parties and candidates and electoral authorities were doing.

This engagement had other valuable benefits.

As in many places there is a glass ceiling for young people to play a major role in political parties. The desire by young people to be engaged yet facing de facto exclusion from serious power inside parties was addressed by them play the role of umpire as observers.

The second, and standard value of observation, is to shine some transparency on what is going on. The very presence of observers can thwart attempts to manipulate or in other ways wrongly affect what happens from the polling station above. In this way observers actually help to secure the elections by simply being present.

Unfortunately being present and thus making it hard for people to manipulate the systems does create natural conflict with political actors (who feel the need to win at all cost). In this way the last part of the second last sentence "not provoking the opposing elements" is unavoidable. This does mean that people, observers, can be placing themselves in harm's way when you face political contestants willing to do anything to win.

To my knowledge of the millions of people who have been mobilised as observers in Indonesia over various elections during the past 13 years, there have been deaths or murders of observers. This may not be the case everywhere in the world. 

There is a certain risk for people (observers) willing to place themselves between due process and the desire of political actors to win at all costs. This is perhaps why for many young people engaging in action to stop abuse, fraud, unfairness and manipulation through election observation/monitoring is seen as personally very valuable and important.

For more than two decades domestic election observation followed closely on the heels of the re-introduction of multiparty democracy in Zambia, Kenya, and later in counties like Malawi, South Africa and Nigeria. Domestic observers are usually mobilized by local NGOs,some times assisted and funded by international CSOs and agencies. It is important to note that funding may be required for training of domestic observers and that there are certain basic conditions that each observer should meet, particularly non-partisanship in conduct and behaviour. In some countries, youngsters become interested in domestic observation through faith-based persuation. In some cases, young persons are interested in contributing to the democratic electoral process in their country. An active environment of civil society organizations which are involved with electoral matters should be able to coopt young people to the cause of democratic elections. A strong voter education program by the EMB concerned should also get the message and inspiration across to young people to participate in the effort of delivering credible election and improved electoral services to voters.

During the 2010 Philippine elections the 'Boto Mo, i-Patrol Mo' (roughly translated 'You Vote, You i-Observe') citizen journalism initiative received a lot of media attention. The project was initiated by a TV station in partnership with other media outlets and encouraged citizens to use their smart phones and digital cameras to document the lead up to the election and election day in their local area.

Almost 100,000 citizens signed up to become 'i-Patrollers' which allowed them to submit their reports electronically to the project. Selected reports were then published on TV, Facebook, Twitter and in other media and ranged from 'All fine in my district' to breaking the news of the Maguindanao massacre.

With its focus on social media, technology and gadgets the initiative was especially attractive for young citizens and encouraged them not only to register and vote, but also get first experience with observing elections.

Tout problème a une solution. J'ai constaté une telle situation dans le département du nord d’Haïti. Mais surtout, il y avait aussi de l’insécurité; la corruption dans tous les niveau lié au processus. La population a été complément découragée et perdue de l'espoir de démocratie en Haiti. Dès fois, la population ne voulait pas entendre parler du recensement, ou d'un processus électoral. Personne ne se donnait pas la volonté d’écouter les membres de la CEP au niveau départemental. Ceux qui se recensent, c'est pour l'utilité de la carte pour des fins autre que les élections. La population n’était pas intéressé d'aller voter alors que c'est un devoir pour tout citoyen. Alors, les solutions: organisation des réunion de sensibilisation au niveau des associations, notables, cadres et des femmes, des coopératives et des Etablissements scolaire et même à l’église: le thèmes: devoir et responsabilité du citoyen. Avantage et inconvénient de l’électeur. Identifier, des volontaire pour créer une organisation d'observation, j'ai aussi utiliser cette méthode, les aider à monter le statut, le dossier administratives, porter un concours au niveau du budget, de fonctionnement, les aider à créer un projet sur l'observation des collection, prendre en charge, les formation des membres, les aider à trouver un bailleur pour leur projet. J'avais suivi de prêt toutes ces activités, et finalement, j'ai renverser la tendance. Il suffit d'avoir la volonté et se donner les moyens. La communication et la sensibilisation, sont des armes indispensable, il faut enfin recenser tous les médias, presses Écrites et radios, télévisions locales, pour s'en servir et identifier des vraies traducteurs, spécialistes en communication, traduire des messages et des slogans en la langue locale.

This reply is posted on behalf of Velko Miloev.

Without knowing the socio-political context of the question raised, one could quickly agree with the comments above. To make electoral observation attractive to young people, several factors must be in place like some clearly expected political change; civil society organizations with grassroots structures and a sufficiently non-partisan image (or widely representing some common cause); resources, including strong media support, etc. However, as already mentioned, modern social media (websites, Twitter, Facebook) open to young people the attractive opportunity to become part of the process, without being affiliated to NGOs  or political parties. The attached report from the 2011 Nigerian elections provides insight into the opportunities and challenges of this new trend in electoral observation.

On a related note, I can clearly see the prospects of using social media to encourage youth to vote. This could include youth internet forums for debates (should I vote or not and why, etc.) and then offering an additional opportunity to feel one’s voice heard – after casting a ballot, play the observation game, tweet from the polling station or post a picture on Facebook.

Les populations des pays nouvellement démocratisés (il y a environ 20ans), considèrent les élections comme un choix souvent communautaire. Les partis politiques n'assument pas leur mission de formation des militant susceptible de leur doter des outils pour entrer dans le jeux démocratique. en même temps, il y a le problème d’incrustation de la vielle garde politique qui ne permet pas une émergence de jeune élite au niveau des dirigeants politiques. cependant pour contourner les difficultés, nous assistons à une prolifération d'organisations de la société civile qui permet à cette jeunesse de participer au débat politique. depuis les années 90 période au cours de laquelle le Niger est entré dans le cercle des pays dits démocratiques, les associations de défense de droits de l'Homme et des libertés se sont multipliées. Elles ont commencé depuis quelques années à s'intéresser aux questions électorales et depuis lors elles reçoivent des financements pour l'éducation civique des citoyens en vue de rehausser le taux de participation surtout des femmes pendant les différents scrutins mais aussi participent activement à l'observation nationale des élections. C'est essentiellement ces associations qui sont les pourvoyeurs d'observateurs nationaux.

Donc pour répondre à la question posée, nous pensons que pour un pays comme le Niger, il faut appuyer cette jeunesse dynamique organisée à travers diverses associations, à assurer la formation civique des citoyens en vue d'améliorer le taux de participation surtout des femmes aux élections. On se rappelle du dynamisme de cette jeunesse quand la démocratie nigérienne était menacée en 2009.

Si ailleurs certaines questions liées à la démocratie sont tabous, au Niger la question est totalement ouverte et la jeunesse est à l'avant garde. Cette jeunesse demande un encadrement et un appui aux actions qu'elle a toujours su menées.

Enfin, pour tout illustrer, nous devons rappeler qu'un collectif d'association a même réalisé un audit du fichier électoral nigérien en 2010 juste avant les élections. cet audit a été conduit avec un professionnalisme exceptionnel.