What do these groups need?
For information on materials supplied to Observer Groups see Overview of Observation Activities. Looking more
specifically at the needs of NGOs and Observer Groups the obvious answer is 'as much
information as is possible about the electoral process'.
Basic briefing material should be prepared in any event for public relation purposes and to
inform the parties and candidates and at a minimum this should include
- the electoral process timetable
- how the system works
- the polling process
- contact points for information
- who participants (particularly candidates and agents) should contact
- the absentee voting process
- at local level details of polling sites, count locations, media centre / results centre
locations
The Groups are likely to have their own specific interests and these will result in requests for
further information. This may for example be about the voting rights of the disabled or about
problems of specific ethnic groups or the accuracy of the voters lists. As a general rule the
electoral manager should try and respond to requests for additional information but not so
as to spend a totally disproportionate amount of time on what may be a minor issue and not
at the expense of core electoral work. Other participants will not be impressed if there is a
major fault with the electoral process because the electoral manager has been distracted by
requests for very detailed information from these Groups.
What information should be withheld
As little as possible in general terms but considerable caution should be exercised in giving
out any information about specific electors or anticipated voting patterns or in fact anything
which could undermine confidence in the security of the individual vote or the transparency
of the overall electoral process. Some electors may well prefer to go through the process
unaided rather than have assistance or information from a NGO or Observer group.
Public Relations
Observer Groups and NGOs may well want more detailed information than the average
member of the public but in dealing with an overview of public relations all information which
is available should be on hand for anyone who wants it or who asks. Is there any reason to
give NGOs or Observer Groups any more information than that made available to the
citizens of the Country concerned who are the participants in the electoral process? In the
interest of public confidence and transparency all participants in the process should have
access to the same level of information. Public relations activities will concentrate on
dispensing information for which there is the greatest demand and interest but ensuring that
there is open availability of the more detailed information which the special interest groups
want is important.
