Desirable - Develop and publicise a Code of Conduct clarifying and specifying the role of public officials and employees and their obligations to their staff with regards to the campaign and the electoral process.
Addressed to - Congress and Civil Servants.
Possible Improvements Suggested - This code of conduct will include reference to the law with regards to the use of public resources and publicly campaigning during office hours. It will also cover the crime of extortion, which negates the possibility to automatically discount part of government employee’s salary in support of an electoral campaign.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential - The introduction of an exception to the principle of “Preclusion” (In the case of suspected fraud, ballot stuffing or manipulation of the results form, a ballot box should be quarantined at the CDE level in order to ascertain the recommended action and if deemed applicable the ballot box should be opened and results adjusted accordingly (by the CDE) or a new election called if an irreconcilable difference is discovered).
Addressed to - CNE; Legislative Branch.
Possible Improvements Suggested - According to international standards, there should be independent scrutiny of the results process and access to judicial review or other equivalent process so that electors have the confidence that the results reflect the votes cast and the counting of the votes. Best international practices dictate that there are procedures that allow for election results to be challenged in an effective and timely manner and that courts make rulings on challenges before the final results are certified.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential - Guarantees for freedom of expression, assembly and movement.
Addressed to - Legislative Branch; CNE.
Possible Improvements Suggested - According to International standards, the full enjoyment of rights protected by article 25 of the ICCPR requires freedom to debate public affairs, hold peaceful demonstrations, and meetings, criticize and oppose, public political material, campaign for election and advertises political ideas.
The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognised. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedom of others.
According to best international practice, the campaign is regulated by law and or administrative regulations that ensure equal opportunity for all candidates and political parties to campaign freely without unreasonable restriction.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Desirable - Introduce funding for referendum campaigns.
Addressed to - Legislative Branch.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Funding should be equal for both or all sides.

Essential - Re-introduce public funding of political organisations participating in elections.
Addressed to - Legislative Branch.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential - Develop a code of conduct for political parties and other groups with regards to campaigning and the general electoral process.
Addressed to - Political Parties and other political actors.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Code of Conduct should ideally follow best practices in the field, including:
1. Commitment to a free and fair, peaceful and non-violent campaign;
2. Commitment to let authorities know where they will be campaigning, in order to ensure equal access to land and assurance of the provision of security, should it be needed;
3. Commitment to ensure freedom of association and expression of any political party;
4. Good conduct.
Timeline - To be implemented in time for next elections.

Desirable - Put out tenders for civil society organisations to carry out voter education.
Addressed to - CNE; Civil Society.
Possible Improvements Suggested - According to international standards, voter education campaigns are necessary to ensure the effective exercise by an informed community on their electoral rights. A best international practice is for electoral authorities to undertake widespread voter education campaigns with the support of civil society.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential - Electoral Law and subsequent CNE resolutions should be amended in order to impede any kind of “institutional propaganda” in the media during the campaign.
Addressed to - CNE; Legislative Branch.
Possible Improvements Suggested - This should also apply in circumstances where propaganda is not directly supporting one option (for referenda) or one party (for general elections). The Government and State institutions propaganda should stop before the beginning of any electoral campaign.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential - Incitement to violence should be included as one of the reasons for a spot’s suspension (article 120).
Possible Improvements Suggested - Article 120 should be expanded to include “Incitement to Violence” as a reason to suspend a spot.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential:
1. The CNE should be provided with extra resources in order to be able to effectively monitor the campaign and take action on media spots that contravene the law. These resources should be available throughout the country and apply at both CNE or CDE level. The possibility of the suspension of spots should be open to appeal at any level. Or alternately;
2. A Media Commission should be established under the umbrella of the CNE.
Addressed to - CNE; Legislative Branch; Media.
Possible Improvements Suggested:
1. The CDEs and the CNEs should have better access to resources in order to effectively monitor media campaign coverage and hold the ability to approve or suspend spots that contravene the law. In the instance of a possible suspension of a spot, the person(s) responsible for said spot should be notified and have the opportunity to defend the legality of the spot. All decisions, whether at CDE or CNE level, should have the possibility of appeal.
2. Alternatively, a Media Commission could be established to monitor reporting. It should have the power to approve or suspend spots and deal with complaints concerning any breaches (according to the electoral law) of reporting, coverage of political campaign, or other violations. The last instance of appeal should be the CNE.
EC Support/Projects - EU or UNDP should be ready to offer training if requested by Bolivian authorities.
Timeline - If possible, within the next 6 months.

Desirable - Provision to abolish the automatic removal of voters from the register should they not vote.
Possible Improvements Suggested - In line with international best practices, all persons entitled to vote should be able to exercise their right to vote. Given the fact that the new voter register will be more transparent and efficient, the CNE should only impose fines on those who do not vote in a particular election and not remove them from the voter register as this will lead to confusion given that they will have a permanent voters card and it will be difficult to cancel this card should they not vote.
Timeline - To be implemented once new voter register is in place.

Essential - Provisions should be made to ensure that out-ofcountry voters are able to register and vote.
Addressed to - CNE; Legislative Branch.
Possible Improvements Suggested - The CNE and the Legislative Branch must take effective measures to ensure that all persons entitled to vote are able to exercise that right.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential - Responsibility for issuing ID Cards should lie with the CNE.
Addressed to - Government; Legislative Branch.
Possible Improvements Suggested - The CNE should also execute the carnetización gratuita programme.
Timeline - Upon establishment of new Tribunal Supremo Electoral.

Desirable - A reasonable per diem should be provided to PS members.
Addressed to - CNE.
Possible Improvements Suggested - If PS members are provided a per diem, those who have to travel distances or those who have other responsibilities will be provided a greater motivation to attend training sessions and carry out their duties on election day.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Essential - Training of relevant stakeholders on relevant complaints and appeals procedures should be undertaken and information provided accordingly.
Addressed to - NEC; EDT.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Essential - The legal concept of interested persons should be extended in a way that not only political parties, movements and candidates but also voters and domestic observers are able, under specific terms and conditions, to submit complaints or appeals to competent bodies.
Addressed to - National Assembly; NEC; EDT.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Improved with 2009 electoral law but somehow ambiguous provisions (Art 244; vs Art 269 et al.).
- Amendment of the Election Law.
Timeline - At least two years before the next electoral cycle.

Essential - The legal framework should establish specific and realistic deadlines for the announcement of provisional and final results. Sanctions should be provided for the non-compliance with these deadlines.
Addressed to - National Assembly; NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Amendment of the Election Law.
EC Support/Projects - EC should be ready to offer legal and electoral expertise if requested by Ecuadorian authorities.
Timeline - At least two years before the next electoral cycle.

Essential - NEC should enhance the accessibility and transparency of the recounting and tabulation process through an orderly and transparent workflow, easy to observe for party agents.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Standardized webcams, observing rooms, Web TV screens can help.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Desirable - To better define the role of members of Polling Stations. At least two members should be involved in the process of counting the ballots, while at least two members should fill in each of the tally sheets.
Addressed to - NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Appointment of dedicated polling station staff for counting and filling in of the election protocols could be an option.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Desirable - Electors in the queue should be allowed to vote after the closing of the votes.
Addressed to - National Assembly; NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Amendment of the Election Law.
EC Support/Projects - EC should be ready to offer legal and electoral expertise if requested by Ecuadorian authorities.
Timeline - At least one year before the next electoral cycle.

Essential - Less number of polling stations except when serving remote or isolated populations.
Addressed to - NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - In this regard, the minimum number of electors per polling station should be increased to 400 or, if deemed feasible, to 500.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Desirable - Political subjects should make an additional effort to appoint agents to oversee the election process. These agents should receive proper training in order to fully understand their role in the process.
Addressed to - Political Subjects.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Essential - Make polling stations accessible to remote and isolated areas.
Addressed to - NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - For this purpose increased cooperation with government institutions (CODENPE) and NGOs would be recommendable.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Essential - Allow polling station committee members and election co- ordinators to vote in the polling station they work in.
Addressed to - NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - NEC regulation.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Essential - A new law should regulate the new State-owned media in order to ensure a strict impartial coverage of electoral campaign and equal access to all candidates refraining from giving any unfair advantage to the incumbent. Furthermore new instruments should be introduced setting out the mandate and responsibilities of state owned broadcasters, and their independence from the authorities.
Addressed to - National Assembly.
Possible Improvements Suggested - To harmonize the new constitutional prohibition of all forms of privately financed publicity in electoral campaigns with the respect of freedom of expression.
EC Support/Projects - EC should be ready to offer legal and electoral expertise if requested by Ecuadorian authorities.
Timeline - Wishfully in one-year time, in the framework of the implementation of the new 2008 Constitution.