Dear Reader,
In this first edition of the ACE Newsletter in 2013 we would like to update you on recent electoral activities and new resources related to ACE, including:
- a new addition to the ACE Focus On series: ACE Focus On Voter Indentification,
- the latest questions and discussions on the Practitioners' Network,
- the completion of Comparative Data updates for all countries and territories,
- electoral events where ACE was presented in recent months, and
- an overview of new publications by ACE Partner organizations and members of the ACE Practitioners' Network.
Best regards,
The ACE Secretariat
New ACE Focus On Voter Identification
Released in January 2013, the ACE Focus On Voter Identification posits that while it is critical to the
legitimacy of elections that there are effective systems to prevent fraud, the
voter identification process, when designed or implemented poorly,
disenfranchises many voters. This Focus On looks at the various ways
citizens are denied the ballot because of ineffective voter ID policies and who
this impacts. It argues that disenfranchisement can occur when the
resources are not committed to making ID programs work; looks at groups this
disproportionately impacts; and examines whether under a cost-benefit analysis,
certain types of ID regimes, particularly those making use of expensive
biometric technology, make sense. It also looks at countries that administer
their identification programs effectively and suggests the need for international
principles for inclusive voter identification procedures.
The ACE Focus On is based on research conducted for The Carter Center publication "Voter Identification Requirements and Public International Law: An Examination of Africa and Latin America"
The Practitioners' Network
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As of January 2013, membership in the ACE Practitioners' Network has increased to 950 participating members.
In 2012 members of the Network contributed to 91 questions and discussions posted by their peers, a record number of contributions. Based on this input from experts and practitioners in the field, 69 Consolidated Replies were published last year. Amongst them are replies to the following questions:
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Abrogation of Quotas for Women:
Are there any cases where quotas for women have been abrogated in accordance with article 4 of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, which stipulates that quotas must be deleted when the objective of equality is reached?
Read more ...
Ensuring polling staff comply with election laws and procedures
A Canadian provincial court ruling declared the May 2011 federal election for the electoral district of Etobicoke-Centre to be “null and void”. The ruling cited a number of administrative errors or inconsistencies on the part of staff at the polls. In response, Elections Canada is undertaking a comprehensive review of voting and election day registration processes. The aim of the review is to identify the factors that can lead to errors, and to determine what may be done to ensure that poll staff consistently follow the instructions they are given.
To inform our review, we would like to initiate a discussion on methods for ensuring compliance with election law and administrative requirements.
Read more ...
Civil society coalitions and domestic election observation
We will soon be trying, as a third, external party, to bring civil society together in Madagascar to monitor and observe the electoral process. Civil Society in Madagascar is extremely divided and often politicised. Hence, the need for an external actor that can "coordinate" such a network.
I am looking for advice/examples of civil society coalitions that have engaged in monitoring and observation of elections..
Read more ...
Scope and functions of the IT Division of an Electoral Management Body
Should the Information Technology unit of an EMB function as a highly specialist/technical unit (focusing on electoral technology for voter registration, results processing, etc.), be a general service provider to the entire EMB (in charge of basic IT and communications systems) or a combination of both?
Examples, experiences and best practices are greatly appreciated.
Read more ...
Comparative Data Fully Updated!
All 52 Comparative Data questions for more than 200 countries are now fully up to date. Browse the database and look for the 11 countries and territories with voting age under 18 years or the 62 that do not allow out of country voting.
ACE at Electoral Events
ACE Electoral Knowledge resources and services were presented at several international electoral conferences, workshops and events including:
Recent Publications by ACE Partners and Members of the Practitioners' Network
Workshop Report: Information Technology and Elections Management
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission, under the auspices of the Joint EC-UNDP Task Force on Electoral Assistance (JTF) and with the support of the UNDP Global Programme on Electoral Cycle Support and the UNDP Country Office in Kenya, organized a thematic workshop in Mombasa, Kenya titled ‘Information Technology and Elections Management: Informed Decisions for Sustainable Outcomes’. The workshop gathered some 230 participants from more than 60 countries to discuss, reflect upon and assess the impact, successes and failures related to the introduction of information and communications technologies (ICTs) into electoral processes.
Elections Canada - Report on the Evaluations of the 41st General Election
The Report on the Evaluations of the 41st General Election of May 2, 2011 is based on evidence from administrative data as well as 10 key post-election surveys and reports. It assesses the experience of voters and political entities during the election as well as the agency’s performance in administering it.
Elections Canada is committed to improving its services through rigorous, balanced evaluation. This report presents a solid foundation for improving the electoral framework.
eLearning Course on ICT and Elections Management
The course aims at addressing thoroughly the issues and challenges of introducing technology into various elements of electoral administration, including voter registration and results management, etc. It also addresses thoroughly the role and challenges of working with biometric technologies, and discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of eVoting systems. The JTF also addressed issues related to linking voter and civil registries, and introduced the topic of digital identity and its interface with voter registration. The primary focus of the course is on the crucial question of how to determine whether proposed technologies are sustainable and appropriate for the environment in which they are being considered.
Voter Identification Requirements and International Law: An Examination of Africa and Latin America
The Carter Center’s Voter Identification Requirements and International Law: An Examination of Africa and Latin America is an in-depth report that seeks to examine voter identification laws and procedures in Africa and Latin America, provide a comparative analysis and make some preliminary determinations as to whether the practices in use comply with international public standards of universal and equal suffrage.
Paper for the European Parliament on election-related violence in Africa
This paper examines violence round sub-Saharan African elections and how the EU can help reduce it. It presents eight case studies. It identifies factors that can increase or mitigate risks of violence and parts of an election that are vulnerable. It draws out patterns from diverse political contexts, including: (i) elections after civil conflict; (ii) competitive polls in unconsolidated democracies; (iii) votes under authoritarian rule; and (iv) those immediately after the departure of a long-serving leader.
