Observer Team Structure and Observation Scheduling
Deployment issues to be considered in relation to coverage (see Full or Sample Observation Coverage) are the use of single observers or multi-member teams and the scheduling of observations, particularly on voting day or at other times of widespread election activity. Available resources and environmental considerations will determine the size of observer teams. Using single observers may increase coverage but in many environments may not be suitable.
Multi-Member Teams
Multi-member teams would be more appropriate where:
- there are doubts about observer professionalism;
- observers are operating in adverse conditions or there are concerns for observer safety;
- the activity to be observed is multi-faceted and/or high volume (such as large voting stations);
- there may be a need to split the focus of observation in a location (for example, if the one location handles different types of voting or a mobile voting team also operates from that location);
- observation at each location is for a short period only.
Using multi-member teams obviously has an impact on costs and may reinforce the importance of proper sample selection of locations and activities to be observed to provide the most cost-effective coverage.
Static or Mobile Observers
A choice will often need to be made between:
- stationing observers at a single location throughout a process;
- using a 'flying squad' technique to allow one observer team to observe at many locations;
- using a combination of these methods--static observer teams at the highest risk locations with flying visits to others.
In most situations, ensuring representative coverage of locations at the critical times for the process suffices, and observers should be able to cover several locations, though visits of less than one hour would be of doubtful use. In environments where risk assessments show that the integrity or professionalism of all relevant state authorities is doubtful, observation at locations for only part of the day may not be sufficient.
Where there is not full coverage of election activity locations (see Full or Sample Observation Coverage), flexibility in deployment plans should allow for mobile response to complaints of irregularities, particularly on voting day. For this reason, observers should carry general, rather than specific location, accreditation. With sampled coverage, it may also be appropriate not to announce in advance all specific locations that are to be visited by observers. This will be influenced by the assessed levels of confidence in the professionalism and integrity of state institutions and any need to plan observer security arrangements.
