Ensuring that agent and observer scrutiny is provided for by issuing specific regulations and guidelines, and through training of staff.

The list of polling stations, their exact locations, and assigned voters should be made public a minimum of one month before election day. Subsequent changes to polling station sites and allocations should only be made in exceptional circumstances, with any change requiring a written public explanation.

The NEC should use one single computerized system to enter results, with the necessary safeguards.

La répartition des domaines de compétences des cinq sous-commissions devrait être révisée : la sous-commission Opérations électorales et la sous-commission Matériels et logistique devraient être rapprochées. La CENI bénéficierait grandement de la mise en place d’une équipe de juristes en son sein.

Les délégués des partis/candidats et les observateurs internationaux et nationaux devraient avoir accès aux séances plénières de la CENI, en qualité d’observateurs. Cette mesure renforcerait la transparence et assurerait une plus grande confiance dans les travaux de la CENI.

Les vice-présidents et les rapporteurs des CELI devraient se réunir et s’accorder sur un règlement intérieur, sous la supervision de la CENI.

Les présidents et les rapporteurs devraient bénéficier d’une formation plus longue qu’en 2010 avant l’élection, tout le matériel pédagogique devrait être produit à l’avance et les procédures ne devraient pas être modifiées à la dernière minute comme cela a été le cas en 2010. La présence des 36 000 membres des bureaux de vote aux séances de formation devrait être rémunérée et garantie par l’utilisation de jetons de présence.

L’adoption de réformes en vue de l’établissement d’un dispositif complet de garde- fous effectifs est indispensable à la prochaine tenue d’élections crédibles et apaisées. La MOE UE recommande en particulier qu’une décision soit prise dans les meilleurs délais permettant l’authentification des bulletins de vote et que les scellés produits pour les prochaines échéances électorales soient chacun doté d’un numéro de série unique, gage de traçabilité.

An election administration body that is neutral and independent and is perceived as such is essential to any election process. As soon as practicable, a change in the appointments system should be made so that IEC commissioners are appointed by a body other than the President.

All IEC staff, and particularly the legal department, should be offered additional legal training. In addition to technical training, capacity building measures should focus on the fundamental human rights being upheld by elections.

Essential - NEC should be able to apply administrative sanctions such as fines and suspension of illegal publicity. This would considerably increase efficiency and celerity.
Addressed to - National Assembly.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Amendment to 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 - Clear and transparent information policy about tabulation, inconsistencies and recounting process, both on PEB and on NEC level (website).
Addressed to - NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - NEC could have an adequate professional press room as well as more manpower in order to enhance transparency through a more proactive dialogue with electoral stakeholders.
- A closer synergy between the departments of Communication, Electoral Promotion and Civic Education could optimize information strategy.
EC Support/Projects - EC should be ready to offer legal and electoral expertise if requested by Ecuadorian authorities.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Desirable - Polling station members should be selected one month before e-day.
Addressed to - NEC.
EC Support/Projects - EC should be ready to offer legal and electoral expertise if requested by Ecuadorian authorities.
Timeline - In time for next electoral cycle.

Essential - Appropriate and timely training to all election staff. Training to Polling station members should emphasize on accurate completion of the results protocols and the determination of the validity of the ballots.
Addressed to - NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - Establishment of a permanent pool of electoral trainers.
EC Support/Projects - EC should be ready to offer legal and electoral expertise if requested by Ecuadorian authorities.
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.

Desirable - CNE should develop more efficient means to pay the members of the polling stations committees.
Addressed to - NEC.
Possible Improvements Suggested - For example making the payment available on polling day.
If Polling Station 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 next electoral cycle.

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.

Desirable - Polling stations and voter registration facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Addressed to - CNE.
Possible Improvements Suggested - The provision of ground floor polling stations, where possible, and facilitate transportation for disabled voters, the infirm, elderly and pregnant women.
Timeline - In time for the next elections.

Nomination of a non-partisan executive secretariat at the National Election Commission by means of changing its nomination and appointment procedures. Its four members are currently elected by two-thirds of the Popular National Assembly and generally reflecting the distribution of seats. The composition of the Assembly gives the ruling party the capacity to name most of its members. It might be considered the nomination of the CNE executive secretariat through a selection of independent candidates by the Supreme Court of Justice, after submission of names of recognized independent, respected Guineans by a mixed mechanism involving the three branches of government, and/or the lawyers bar association.

The CNE, although aware of internal weaknesses and unclear election procedures as a result of the 2005 presidential and 2008 legislative elections, did not invest in the strengthening of internal operational and management skills. National and regional administrative structures (i.e. departments of logistics and operations, IT, voter education, secretariat, administration and finance) were scarcely upgraded in terms of equipment or much needed human resources and training. It would be desirable to conduct joint training sessions for different departments at CNE and CRE levels in cooperation with regional or PALOP and CPLP homologous institutions. Equally, training of polling staff, although improved in 2009, should be strengthened by fully using the resources of the CREs, regional education structures and NGOs.

As a matter of priority, the necessary reforms should be made to introduce the use of officially printed ballots. This will be an essential element of voter’s right to a secret vote and will abolish practices associated with vote-buying and increase confidence in the process.

The capacity of any independent Election Management Body (EMB) to monitor candidates’ spending during the campaign period should be enhanced. The EMB should have access to full financial disclosure from candidates in carrying out the verification of statements of campaign expenditures and revenues.

The Electoral Commission should conduct an internal review of its procedures and structures in light of its limited capacity in organising these elections. The external expertise supplied by the United Nations Development Programme should also be assessed as part of this process.

A legal department should be established in the Secretariat of the Electoral Commission under the direction of the Commissioners in order for it to more fully deal with complaints. This department should receive all necessary resources to guarantee complaints are processed in a timely and consistent manner.

The procedures for the selection of the Electoral Commission’s Commissioners should be reviewed in order to increase transparency. A two term limit could be considered and appointments should be made by an independent panel based on best practice principles for public appointments.