Dear Reader,

The September 2015 edition of the ACE Newsletter highlights:

• Feature: Burundi Election Update
• The latest questions and discussions on the Practitioners' Network
• ACE Encyclopaedia: The Latest Updates
• New publications by ACE Partner organizations and members of the ACE Practitioners' Network 

Best regards,

The ACE Electoral Knowledge Network

Feature: Burundi Election Update

The 2001 Arusha Accords and the 2005 Constitution raised hopes that Burundi could build democratic institutions and escape a cycle of ethnically-based violence.  Burundi had been relatively peaceful and had seen diminished ethnic tensions reflected by multiethnic representation in government institutions and the military. Although most of the opposition boycotted national elections in 2010, opposition parties were poised to contest the 2015 elections. Despite a number of significant problems, a vocal civil society advocated for democratic rights, and independent media was able to report relatively freely on political developments.

As the 2015 cycle of local, parliamentary and presidential elections approached, however, the electoral environment deteriorated dramatically. Burundi is increasingly affected by political tension, fear and violence. Protests take place almost on a daily basis in the capital Bujumbura. At least 40 people have been killed, many more wounded, and over 100,000 refugees have fled Burundi due to intimidation and fear of violence. Parliamentary and communal elections (originally scheduled for May 26) and the presidential election (originally scheduled for June 26) have now been postponed until June 29 and July 15 respectively. 

Read the full article here ...

Focus On: Measuring Electoral Quality

The ACE Focus On series aims to explore in greater detail cross-cutting issues referenced in the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network. A subject matter specialist introduces each topic, highlights issues and sample materials in ACE and identifies additional online resources for users to research more information. 

The newest Focus On, Measuring Electoral Quality is authored by David S. Pottie, and introduces the methodologies currently being used to assess the conduct of elections. These range from public opinion polls and wider democracy assessments to more specialized election management assessments and technical assessments. Noting the diversity of measurements, Pottie arranges them into several typologies, based on the qualities they share, how they differ, and the findings they lead to. Moreover, the author analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches, and shares a set of conclusions and questions for further discussion. 

If you would like to see a particular topic addressed in an ACE Focus On, or in Spanish or French, please send your suggestions to [email protected].

Practitioners' Network Updates

Consolidated replies are published summaries of the discussions on the Practitioners' Network. The following are some of the consolidated replies published since March. Nearly 40 questions have been consolidated, so be sure to look here for a full overview.

Best Practices in Gender-Segregated Voting

I am interested in knowing about best practices in gender-segregated voting. More specifically, I would like to learn about best practices in the following aspects of the process: 

• Legal framework
• Voter registration
• Civic education 
• Voting operations 
• Electoral security
• Observation
• Evaluation criteria 

PN members are encouraged to cite international and domestic best practices in this area, and share examples of how election commissions have implemented them in their countries.

Special Rules and Bans on Election Day

In environments faced with civil and political conflicts, special rules or bans have been enacted that apply to the public in the lead up to Election Day. 

For instance, in the lead up to the October 12th general election in Bolivia, media reports suggest that the country's Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) may enact several public bans, including one on the sale of alcohol between the 9th and the 13th of October, and on carrying dangerous objects (e.g. firearms, knives).  Furthermore, police officers may be deployed to enforce these restrictions in the period surrounding Election Day.

The question, therefore, is in three parts:

1 What kind of bans have other countries enacted around Election Day to deter violence?

2 How have they been enforced?

3 What are the legal frameworks governing the issuing of special rules or bans in the lead up to Election Day?

Finally, we encourage members to weigh in on the overall effectiveness of public restrictions and bans in deterring election violence.

The media’s role in creating peaceful and non-violent elections

How can the media can play a role in creating peaceful and non-violent elections?  More specifically:

• What sort of preparations should the media make in advance of an election?
• What do you think the public wants to know in advance of an election?
• What is the right time frame for the media to discuss aspects of an election?

Practitioners' Network members are encouraged to share advice useful to members of the media like print journalists. 

Instances of Purging Voters from Voter Rolls

Some countries remove registered voters from the voter rolls if they do not vote in a specified number of consecutive elections. I am looking for more information on this practice, specifically:  

1. How many countries have provisions for removing voters from the voter registry for failure to vote in a specified number of consecutive elections? (Or, what are some examples of countries that do so?) 
2. Does such purging of voters for nonvoting typically have significant effects on the accuracy of the voter rolls or on voter turnout?

Performance Audits of Election Authorities: Methodologies and Examples of Conduct 

I am researching the conduct of performance audits of election authorities. I am interested in finding out more about the methodology associated with conducting a performance audit. 

Most EMBs conduct post-election reviews where they tackle lessons learnt from the last elections. Some depend on lessons for elections observation missions (both international and domestic), along with other stakeholder inputs including EMB staff. Performance audits, however, differ from these post-election reviews, though there are overlaps. Just like financial audits, it is associated with tracking aspects of accountability associated with performance of the electoral institution. Performance audits like those done by the Botswana Election Commission appear rare. 

 Does anybody know of more examples of such performance audits, and particularly of the methodology employed to conduct them? I am very interested in how these performance audits are conducted in terms of the structure and composition of the audit team, the duration of the audit, their main objectives and working parameters such as indicators, as well as their reporting outputs. Any accessible examples of such studies would be very useful.

Permanent Voter Registration Systems

In some states in the United States, there are discussions on shifting to a system of permanent voter registration. According to a 2009 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, 

"Election officials process millions of change-of-address cards each year to keep voter registration lists up to date. This involves deciphering information written on millions of paper forms and laboriously inputting data. The administrative headache is hardly trivial: between 2004 and 2006, election officials in 35 states processed nearly 11 million forms submitted by already-registered voters to report address or name changes or updates to party affiliation. These updates accounted for at least 30% of all voter registration transactions during that period. Not surprisingly, election officials report that dealing with address changes is the most challenging aspect of voter list maintenance."

In line with this, the report also estimates that the mobility of Americans is, to an extent, a driver of the US's comparatively lower voter turnout. To address this issue several states have established systems of portable or "permanent" registration where voters who move within a state can cast ballots that count on Election Day, even if they haven't submitted new registration paperwork before the voter registration deadline. Thus there is a belief that permanent registration systems can increase electoral participation. According to the report, states with permanent registration systems experienced some of the highest voter turnout rates in the 2008 US general election.

The question is therefore twofold:

• Are there similar discussions or measures in place in other countries surrounding permanent voter registration? 
• What are the pros and cons of such systems? 

Practitioners' Network members are encouraged to provide country-specific examples.

EMB Experiences with Open Source Technology

I am currently conducting a global survey among EMBs on the usage of open source technology. 

To complement this effort, I am interested in any information members of the PN may provide about country experiences with open source systems, especially for election specific applications such as party, candidate and voter registration, boundary delimitation, results transmission and management, electronic voting, etc. 

Civil society’s role in advocating for, drafting, and implementing campaign finance laws

I am looking for case studies or reports that show how civil society has successfully advocated for the implementation of a new campaign finance law (party disclosure of financial statements for election campaigns) and also how civil society monitored the the drafting and implementation of the law. 

PN members are requested to share examples, reports, or links to examples online. 

ACE Encyclopaedia: The Latest Updates

ACE recently finalized two additions to the Focus On series, International Election Observation, and E-Voting.  The ACE Focus On series aims to explore in greater detail cross-cutting issues referenced in the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network. A subject matter specialist introduces each topic, highlights issues and sample materials in ACE and identifies additional online resources for users to research more information. 

‘International Election Observation’, authored by the Carter Center’s Chloe Bordewich, Avery Davis-Roberts and David Carroll, analyzes the factors that influence and challenge international observation organizations, and individual observers. Grounding itself in an exploration of the post World War II context that birthed international observation, the piece examines the tools and methodologies used by international observer groups, and concludes with a series of questions surrounding the challenges and obstacles in the field. 

ACE Focus On ‘E-Voting’ or Electronic Voting was initially published in 2004, but updated in 2014 by its original author, the German Research Institute for Public Administration Speyers’ Nadja Braun Binder, in cooperation with Ardita Driza Maurer, Robert Krimmer, Uwe Serdült, and Priit Vinkel. The piece explores the many variations of e-voting, provides a historical overview of the practice, shares basic requirements, and then presents an analysis of the various stakeholders, risks, benefits, and costs. 

If you would like to see a particular topic addressed in an ACE Focus On, or in Spanish or French, please send your suggestions to [email protected].

Recent Publications by ACE Partners and Members of the Practitioners' Network

Election Audits: International Principles that Protect Election Integrity  (IFES) 

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Democracy International (DI) have released a new joint white paper that identifies best practices for election audits in developing democracies. Election audits, which are increasingly used as a means of settling disputes about electoral results, are often conducted as ad hoc processes without clearly defined standards and procedures. In this collaborative effort, IFES and DI put forth recommendations to guide electoral management bodies in preparing for election audits.  

As the international community continues to support electoral processes in developing democracies around the world, it is critical to come to consensus on standards that should be applied both to assess the need for an election audit and to conduct such an audit. This white paper is the first effort at building that consensus.  

Inclusive Electoral Processes: A Guide for EMBs on Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Participation  (UNDP)

This publication seeks to provide assistance to those working to increase the participation of women in electoral processes and electoral administration. The Guide presents existing practices and options for reforms that may assist EMBs and assistance providers such as UNDP, UN Women and other UN agencies in their work. While the primary audience are members of EMBs around the world, the material is also of interest and use to others who work to support credible and inclusive electoral processes and the work of the EMBs, such as civil society organizations, political parties and the media. While there is generally a lack of documentation of initiatives in this area, examples have been drawn from more than 50 countries. 

Main Aspects of the Mexican Electoral Regime (INE)

This publication was conceived and developed as part of the promotion and dissemination activities carried out by the National Electoral Institute (INE) amongst the international community, especially between foreign visitors, for the federal electoral processes that takes place in Mexico. Its main goal is to give simple, clear and didactic informative material to those who may be interested in getting to know the most relevant aspects of the Mexican political-electoral regime, as well as the nature and organisation of some of the Institute’s main activities.