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Election Observations

National and international election observation has become a central mechanism for ensuring the integrity of elections in post-conflict and transitional countries. Election observation has the benefit of nearly universal acceptance, and the presence of observers ensures that the electoral process is conducted according to international standards. Observation can raise voter confidence and serve as a useful indicator of the legitimacy of an electoral process and outcome. In addition, election observation can assess the role of women in the electoral process and determine whether women candidates are granted equal access to the media, public funding and other essential resources.

From the Library

Sierra Leone Query: Experiences with Sequencing PAR Reforms and Electoral Cycles

This report aims to assist UNDP/Sierra Leone in formulating strategies to reform different aspects of civil service, as it heads into upcoming elections. It begins with a discussion of the types of civil service reforms that may be useful, and methods of implementation. It was difficult to find examples of experiences correlating PAR reforms and electoral cycles.  However, we did find examples of reform programmes from a number of countries.  These programmes tend to be implemented over a minimum of four (4) years; at which time the country has often undergone some type of major election.  

The overwhelming trend across the international reports found seems to point towards avoiding election times when it comes to civil service reforms. Reforms in other countries have begun either before or after elections, but do not tend to be heavily implemented during election time frames. Although civil service reform is the main topic of the report, it would be difficult to have meaningful reforms without legitimate leadership, chosen through democratic elections. Because of the difficulty in maintaining fair elections in the past, it seems that electoral reform is a necessary precursor to civil service reform, especially given the temporal proximity of the next elections.

The report concludes with observations and questions for further study, which may aid UNDP/Sierra Leone as it attempts to reform civil service and public sector laws, while anticipating upcoming elections.

Designing for Equality: Best-fit, medium-fit and non-favourable combinations of electoral systems and gender quotas

This publication provides an overview of the ‘fit’ of the various electoral systems with different kinds

of quota and thereby assesses how increased women’s representation can be achieved under different combinations of electoral systems and quotas. It aims to serve as a reference tool for all those who work to increase women’s representation in politics.

The Road ahead Citizen Attitudes about Burundi in the Post-2011 Election Period

This report explores public opinion in Burundi. Based on 40 focus group discussions with nearly 500 Burundian participants, the report examines attitudes and concerns of Burundian citizens about the 2010 electoral period. As with all NDI public opinion studies, participants were asked about their views on government performance, security, human rights, and related issues. Principal findings are summarized below. The full results, along with selected quotations from participants, can be found in the Principal Findings section of this report.

Rwanda: Women Hold Up Half the Parliament

In October 2003, women won 4. percent of seats in Rwanda’s lower house of Parliament.  Having achieved near-parity in the representation of men and women its legislature, this small African country now ranks first among all countries of the world in terms of the number of women elected to parliament. 

The dramatic gains for women are a result of specific mechanisms used to increase women’s political participation, among them a constitutional guarantee, a quota system, and innovative electoral structures. This case study will describe those mechanisms and attempt to explain their origins, focusing in particular on the relationship between women’s political representation and the organized women’s movement, significant changes in gender roles in post-genocide Rwanda, and the commitment of Rwanda’s ruling party, the RPF, to gender issues. It will also briefly introduce some of the achievements and challenges ahead for women in Rwanda’s Parliament. 

To access the document, please click here.  

Consolidated Response on Polling Station Management

In most countries a woman’s right to vote is enshrined in law, leaving no formal legal barriers to the electoral participation of women. In practice, however, many obstacles still keep women from casting their vote. The hurdles can be daunting, especially for women looking to run for office and for women in post-conflict situations, and are often difficult to overcome.

This consolidated response considers how polling station management can increase women’s electoral participation. While polling station management offers no quick fix for the low level of women’s electoral participation in some parts of the world, it can make a substantial difference on voting day.

Consolidated Response on Women and Referenda

This consolidated response highlights the important role that women play in referendum campaigns. It also discusses the importance of active participation of women and sensitivity to potential barriers to women’s participation in a referendum, especially in a post-conflict environment. The consolidated response provides examples from countries that have gone through the process of referenda and details how women and gender-related issues were addressed on these occasions.

eLearning Course on Effective Electoral Assistance

The European Commission (EC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) are pleased to announce the arrival of the pioneer eLearning Course on Effective Electoral Assistance. The Course has been developed within the Train4Dev initiative and in collaboration with International Organization for Migration (IOM), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Organization for American States (OAS) and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affiars. The overarching objective of the eLearning Course on Effective Electoral Assistance is to make the electoral assistance community to deliver more effective assistance in line with the main principles informing the Paris Declaration (2005) and the Accra Agenda for Action (2008) regards ownership, alignment, harmonization, results and accountability. Development of the capacities of electoral assistance providers (multilateral and bilateral agencies and international organizations) as well those receiving assistance (national electoral management bodies and other electoral stakeholders) is vital in improving assistance effectiveness. The eLearning Course is developed on the basis of the face-to-face Joint EC-UNDP-IDEA Joint Training on Effective Electoral Assistance. The first training of this type was organized in September 2006 in Brussels and since then the training has developed tremendously in terms of the audience, the experts contributing and the curriculum. To find further details please visit E-Learning Portal.

Monitoring Electronic Technologies in Electoral Processes

This guide aims to increase the understanding of civic and political activists regarding what transparency measures to demand in establishing safeguards concerning electronic electoral technologies, as well as what skills their organizations will need to develop to verify the integrity of electronic electoral technologies. Specifically, it covers the types of technologies employed, the potential challenges for electoral integrity brought by such technologies, issues to consider in deciding whether to introduce electronic technologies and transparency that should be employed when electronic technologies are utilized.

Consolidated Response on the Prevention of Family Voting

This consolidated response includes descriptions of family and proxy voting and provides recommendations on how to eliminate family voting through holding trainings and public awareness campaigns, strengthening legislative frameworks, and sensitizing election commissioners and observers on issues faced by women.

The Rise of Women Leaders in the Philippines: A Study of Corazon Aquino & Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Despite the Philippines’ patriarchal institutions, narrow elite class, and repression of women, other social variables such as family ties, the Catholic Church, corruption, and gender symbolism have provided an opening for women to enter into the male-dominated political arena. This paper focuses particularly on the case studies of two female Filipino presidents: Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.