Malawi Elections 2009 : Be proactive monitors on elections day-PACENET

The Pan African Civic Educators Network (PACENET) has asked all contesting political parties and candidates, be proactive, recruit and deploy effective monitors in a press released signed by Steven Duwa, the Executive Director of PACENET. Currently PACENET is one of the main implementing organisations of the 50-50 National Campaign for more women in Parliament come the May, 19^th 2009 Election and is also accredited under Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN ) to monitor the entire electoral process including the polls on 19^th May, 2009 .                                                                                                       

In that regard, PACENET would like to remind ALL  political parties and candidates especially women contesting on the 19^th May to prioritize the monitoring of the polling day  events including the voting, counting and announcing of results by among other things; recruiting, training and deploying energetic, knowledgeable, dedicated and trustworthy people to monitor the polls. Quality monitors and monitoring will enhance voters' confidence in the voting process and results of the election itself thereby reducing the likelihood of post election conflict.

We call upon all the contestants to invest considerable amount of time and resources in the monitoring exercise lest their efforts to win in the election are frustrated by possible fraud orchestrated by certain misguided individuals or groups of people who would like to win the election by employing rigging tactics. As an experienced organisation in issues of elections including election monitoring, we would like to draw the attention of ALL contestants to the following malpractices /rigging tactics and which should be the reason for the deployment of good and active monitors on the polling day:

a)       Electioneering – active campaigning and solicitation of votes by a candidate, political party agents in the polling place or within the 100 metres campaign free zone of the polling station

b)       Payment for a vote

c)       Illegal casting of votes

d)       Impersonating a registered voter

e)       Interfering with the voting process

f)        Harassing the voters

g)       Tampering with voting materials

h)       Illegal voter assistance or instruction

i)         Voters who try to leave the poling centre with a ballot.

 
OTHER FORMS OF ELECTION RIGGING

 

Deception

·         A poll clerk responsible for distribution of ballot papers and demonstrating to the voter on how to properly cast the vote may openly tell them which candidate to vote for.

·         Deception method is also used a few days before polling. The electorate may be deceived that their candidate(s) have already won the elections therefore, there was no need for them to go vote.

 

 

Manipulation of Results

·         Another malpractice is falsification of results. The recommended electoral procedure is that at the end of counting exercise, the presiding officer distributes signed results sheets to all representatives of interested parties. The result sheet contains scores acquired by each candidate at the polling centre. The falsification of results is achieved through the use of plain forgery. The result sheet in which scores obtained from polling centre is substituted with another result sheet which is not authentic with different scores.

·         The results sent from polling stations are manipulated by either the returning officer or his/her subordinates.

 

Dumping of ballot papers

 

·         The dumping of ballot papers is done by the presiding officer and poll clerks at the polling station / streams. This method is effective only where there is cooperation among the polling staff. The pre-marked ballot papers are dumped or put in the ballot boxes at the polling stream by either the presiding officer or any chosen polling clerk.

·         On the same, ballot boxes full of pre-marked ballot papers are brought to the polling station by agents of those who intend to rig election and exchange for the ones in use at the polling stream / station.

 

Illegal voting

·       Another election rigging technique is referred to as illegal voting. This is a pre-arranged activity whereby not less than two poll clerks are used namely a clerk responsible for checking the particulars of a voter in the voters register and another responsible for checking as to whether the person has already cast his / her vote.

·       This method is used in selected stations where the polling staff is undoubtedly loyal to the candidate(s) or political party which intend to rig the election.

·       This electoral malpractice is also used in polling stations which are very close to the boundary.

 

Intimidation

·         Threatening voters on the eve of the polling day with objectives to either prevent eligible voters from casting their votes or vote for someone who is not their choice.

·         On the same, another method would be the deployment of agent(s) of a particular candidate(s) or political party strategically on selected routes leading to the polling station. The aim is to use threats which may force the electorate to vote against their conscience.

·         During the voting process, the recommended electoral procedure is that ballots should be distributed to a voter at a particular time. However, when the presiding officer and poll clerks have sinister intentions, a poll clerk who is issuing ballots deliberately distributes ballots to several voters at a time so that a queue should be formed. Once this materialises, either a police or military officer is used to intimidate voters on the queue to vote against their wish.

 

Null and void techniques

·         A poll clerk who is supposed to demonstrate to the voter on how to properly cast the vote, deliberately ill advises the voter. For example, to mark on two places on the ballot so that the vote should be declared null and void.

 

Conclusion

·         The right to vote is the pillar of our democracy. It is the duty of the polling staff and monitors jointly to protect this voting right.

·         When a monitor notices an electoral malpractice or irregularity by the polling staff, he/she should politely call to their attention. If the presiding officer or poll clerk(s) fail to rectify the problem or refuse to follow laid down procedures, then the monitor should properly record the incident in the complaints form available at the polling station and report the same to his/her superiors who may in turn notify the election authorities.

The Pan African Civic Educators Network (PACENET) is an NGO which strives to promote a culture of human rights and good governance focusing on issues of citizen (especially women) participation in decision making positions including politics.NORAD and Action Aid International Malawi are supporting PACENT activities on the 50-50 National Campaign for more women in Parliament, the release added.

 

AEP