THE ELECTORAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

THE ELECTORAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

T H E E L E C T O R A L K N O W L E D G E N E T W O R K KNOWLEDGE BASE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT 2 1 3 acquire and manage knowledge produce and share knowledge adapt and apply knowledge

the “knowledge gap” DEMOCRATISATION WAVE C O L D W A R elections were primarily an internalmatter of states a wide number of countries undertook steps to reform their electoral systems and processes NO EXTERNAL SCRUTINY EVALUATION

the democratization wave the field of electoral administration has dramatically grown and changed in scope new critical needs emerged: accountability legitimacy representation sustainability transparency participation there was a sharp increase in demand for electoral assistance election practitioners confront more and more complex challenges

the “knowledge gap” THE KNOWLEDGE GAP some countries were largely unprepared to go through major democratic transitions that featured crucial elections electoral institutions not always possessed the necessary experienceand knowledge to deliver and guaranteecredible elections electoral practitioners had virtually no access to comparative knowledge, bestpractices and lessons learned in the field of elections there was no coherent electoral administration methodology, the field lacked of common standards 1990’s

the ACE Project a collaborative effort THE KNOWLEDGE GAP

the ACE Project a complete and systematic collection of informationon all aspects relating to the organization of elections

target audience media representatives policy-makers and legislators academics election administrators researchers and students electoral practitioners the civil society members of parliament multilateral institutions political party representatives donor agencies

key facts and figures an estimated 8,000pages of text 150 case studies from 40 countries 500 election-related links to external resources three official language versions: English, Spanish and French partial, unofficial language versions: Arabic, Serbian, Albanian and Russian 15,000 CD-Roms distributed worldwide ACE website traffic averages between 700,000 and 1,000,000 hitsper month collects 700 sample materials from 90 countries

the new challenges new needs and priorities were arising

the changing needs CREDIBILITY GAP THE KNOWLEDGE GAP electoral management bodies confront a whole set of new challenges: building the trust of the various stakeholders in the electoral process electorate political parties the civil society the media observer groups international community

the changing needs CREDIBILITY GAP THE KNOWLEDGE GAP electoral management bodies confront a whole set of new challenges: ? building the trust of the various stakeholders in the electoral process creating transparent and sustainable electoral systems and processes addressing problems of lack of retention of their institutional memory reversing situations of professional stagnation solving political, financial and logistical challenges undermining their work and the credibility of the elections PROFESSIONAL STAGNATION

the changing needs CREDIBILITY GAP THE KNOWLEDGE GAP a more professional electoral administration loss of credibility and mistrust in the electoral process voters’ apathy and low turnout electoral disputes, electoral violence or civil strife an electedgovernment that lacks of the required legitimacy enhanced credibility strengthened public trust

in the electoral process in the institution administering that process credible elections require stakeholders’ confidence: stakeholders’ confidence matters in the way in which that process is being administrated

solving the credibility gap once that public trust in the electoral process is lost, regaining it could be extremely difficult TWOFOLD SOLUTION: 2 1 be perceived as running elections well run elections well a “professional” approach

solving the credibility gap a “profession” differs from a “job” has access to reference materials and publications on relevant subject matters is always guided by an ethical code of conduct takes part in professional development programmes, training courses, secondments is part of a network of peers who could serve as a resource for obtaining support and inspiration a “professional” approach

expanding the ACE partnership the ACE Project could no longer provide all the appropriateresponses to address the new challenges the ACE partners sought to evaluate the relevance of the ACE Project to address these changing needs full project partners cooperating partners transform the ACE Project into a more active and interactive force, with new services and dimensions

T H E E L E C T O R A L K N O W L E D G E N E T W O R K KNOWLEDGE BASE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT 2 1 3

THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE existing online databases, tools, publications and libraries Practitioners’ Network centralized repository for electoral knowledge knowledge knowledge acquisition produce and share knowledge new databases, publications, tools and services retention codification dissemination

THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE the supporting structure, the backbone of the ACE Practitioners’ Network THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE

THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE an enhanced and updated version of the ACE core texts, with special emphasis on issues of costs, sustainability, professionalism and trust the ACE encyclopaedia new dynamic functions, a greater interaction between the core texts and related links, services and resources the ACE topic areas the “Focus On…” the “Electoral Quiz” the “Electoral Glossary”

THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE new comparative functions allowing users to compare how different countries manage their elections: the ACE encyclopaedia country [A] comparative data electoral system voter education vote counting country [B]

THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE a comprehensive and structured collection of electoral resources, case studies and sample materials from all over the world: the ACE encyclopaedia electoral legislation comparative data electoral observation reports technical assessments sample materials electoral resources voter education materials election calendars codes of conduct etc.

submit question THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE provision ofprofessional electoral advisory services online the ACE encyclopaedia Electoral Advice Online comparative data Get online technical and policy advice on electoral matters electoral resources electoral advice archive of questions and answers electoral “forum” roster of experts

THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE news from the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network: election-related articles from ACE partner organisation, of practitioners from the community of practice, institutions taking part to the project as resource centres the ACE encyclopaedia comparative data “Elections Today” electoral resources regional highlights electoral advice election calendars job opportunities events … and more

THE ACE KNOWLEDGE BASE ACQUIRE AND MANAGE KNOWLEDGE the regional dimension of the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network: the ACE encyclopaedia regions map of the resource centres in the various regions comparative data “Elections Today” links to regional case studies online forum for regional partners to communicate and exchange info electoral resources electoral advice regional news and events …and more

ELECTORAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES THE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK GENERATE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE a group of electoral practitioners sharing common interests, common professional responsibilities and common goals THEMATIC a network of Electoral Resource Centres, strategically established in different regions worldwide tocollect, share and make knowledge accessible in the form of comparative data, resource materials, case studies and events REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES North America Europe North Africa Asia Middle East Central America Oceania West Africa REGIONAL South America Southern Africa

ELECTORAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES THE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK GENERATE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE elections and technology election integrity electoral systems legal framework media and elections vote counting electoral management ELECTORAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE voting operations boundary delimitation voter education parties and candidates voter registration

ELECTORAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES THE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK GENERATE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE Voter Registration THE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK HIGHLY COMPUTERISED VOTER REGISTRATION???

ELECTORAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES THE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK GENERATE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE Voter Registration

ELECTORAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES THE PRACTITIONERS’ NETWORK GENERATE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE exchange of information and know-how collection of comparative data and resource materials creation of opportunities for activities and events production of case studies mutual support and provision of advisory services

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ADAPT AND APPLY KNOWLEDGE long-term capacity development projects to assist electoral management bodies requiring support to reach higher levels of professionalisation CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FACILITY (CDF) regional training programmes for electoral instructions wishing to strengthen the professional capacity of their staff training, professional advisory services, and peer partnerships targeted assistance activities for electoral management bodies requiring assistance in strengthening their policy and legislation frameworks capacity development tools and formal educational programmes on electoral administration based on the ACE texts, leading to the awarding of formal certificates/diplomas by academic institutions

submit question browse archive join the forum The Practitioners’ Network Welcome to the Practitioners’ Network Electoral Advice Online Get online technical and policy advice on electoral matters The Practitioners’ Network of the Administration and Cost of Elections (ACE) Project offers integrated knowledge services designed to meet a growing demand for sharing information and best practices on elections and for timely, coherent and effective technical and policy advice within the global electoral community. Questions & Answers Browse the archive of previous Questions and Answers The Practitioners’ Network serves as a vehicle for: • the delivery of professional advisory services both among the same Network’s members and to the ACE community at large; • the establishment of a “network of peers” who are in constant contact and interaction, rely on each other, solve problems, offer solutions, share knowledge and provide timely support; The Electoral Forum • the building of common standards, language, methods and models around specific technical, legal, procedural issues relating to elections; The “meeting place” for the members of the ACE Practitioners’ Network • the creation of opportunities for professional development events on a global or a regional level. homeabout this projectproject partnersjoin the practitioners' networkcontact uslinks

submit question Get online technical and policy advice on electoral matters Through Ask the Experts, users pose questions on election administration, electoral systems and processes to the ACE Practitioners’ Network, a pool of election professionals with diverse and complementary experience and specialisation. Submit a Question: How does Electoral Advice Online Work? Subject: Voter Registration Select a subject I would like to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a voters’ register containing the photographs of registered voters, in addition to issuing them with a photo voter ID… Type your question here Name: John Electoral Advice Online Submitting Question.... Surname: Brown john.brown@acenet.org E-mail: Please do not publish my name or e-mail address. homeabout this projectproject partnersjoin the practitioners' networkcontact uslinks

the ACE Project The ElectoralKnowledge Network ? next week our Election Commission will participate to Parliamentary Hearing to decide on the introduction of electronic voting machines based on the Indian model with these machines there is no possibility of an invalid or blank vote as a choice for the voter we would urgently like to know your opinion on whether we should include in the machines a blank vote option is a blank vote a voter’s right? do protest votes play an important function? how have other countries having electronic voting systems dealt with such an issue?

? the ACE Project The ElectoralKnowledge Network Electoral Advice Online the practitioners’ network NO YES …validation process… Get online technical and policy advice on electoral matters Get online technical and policy advice on electoral matters Electoral Systems Legal Framework Electoral Management Boundary Delimitation Voter Education Voter Registration Voting Operations Parties and Candidates Vote Counting Media and Elections Elections Integrity Elections and Technology

? the ACE Project The ElectoralKnowledge Network Electoral Advice Online the practitioners’ network …indexing process… Get online technical and policy advice on electoral matters Elections and Technology Use of electronic voting machines 5 Answers Available Electoral Systems Legal Framework Electoral Management Boundary Delimitation Voter Education To add a few quick comments to the mix. If machines are to be configured in this way, it would be necessary to specify in the law what will be the consequences if (a) "None of the Above" (NOTA) wins an absolute majority (eg NOTA 60%, Party A 25%, Party B 15%); or (b) NOTA wins a plurality but less than 50% (eg NOTA 40%, Party A 35%, Party B 25%). (It has the potential to get messier in preferential and proportional systems (for example, if there are 10 vacancies and NOTA wins a quota, should the number of vacancies to be filled by live candidates drop to 9?). In more democratic systems its effects would be more problematical. My view is that the system should encourage (though not necessarily compel) people to exercise their power to choose. There will always be some people who are genuinely indifferent between the candidates (and they will normally have the option of abstaining), or who feel strongly about lodging a protest vote; but I think that offering NOTA as an explicit option might encourage some people to make a rather glib statement, when they are not really indifferent between the remaining candidates. Michael Let me add a couple of comments to Horatio, and Michael's and others' input. I just returned from observing the US election. In Florida, the ballot not only involved elections for President, Senate and Congress, but also for multiple local offices and for local initiatives. In this kind of situation where would one draw the line on "none of the above" and what would be the criteria for inclusion or exclusion of this option??? Personally I favour the inclusion of the option but choosing it would result in a rejected ballot in order to avoid the complications described. The rejected ballots would then be subdivided into none of the above ballots, and ballots rejected for other reasons. Ron Though the Indian Electronic Voting machines (EVMs) can be programmed to record “NOTA” option, the reason it is not so recorded lies in the experience of the past. In the FPTP system of India, contest at the provincial level could be quite close. Many times the difference between the winning candidate and the trailing candidate is less then the total invalid votes. In the Indian type of EVM at present there is no scope for an invalid or void vote. But if “NOTA” option were to be introduced, then a large number of those Indian voters who are illiterate, might mistaken it for some candidate and thus cast vote which will essentially be an invalid vote. Moreover, in the absence of a legal provision, a voter can not exercise the NOTA option. Thus in countries where there is no option available at present to exercise this option, there it may not be advisable to introduce this option. Similarly where this option already exists then configuring machines to record NOTA should present no problem. By the way, in India, instead of NOTA option, to show their dissatisfaction and angst with politicians, sometimes all the voters from certain village decide to boycott the elections: a collective exercise of NOTA option!!! I fully agree with Nadia's comment. I just would like to add a specific comment. Almost all the machines I know about allow a blank vote (or undervote, as it is the name in the US jargon). Most of them will inform the voter that s/he is issuing a blank/under vote and ask s/he to ratify the decision to avoid blank votes being issued by mistake. When voting with paper ballots, the inclusion of a box "None of the above" allows differentiating between blank ballots cast by ignorance or mistake from "purposeful" blank ballots, in the sense that the person does not want to vote for any of the available candidates. It is because there is that difference that the inclusion of a specific box "None of the above" makes sense in paper based systems. In the world of machines, if the machine requires a ratification in the case of a blank/under vote, this is the equivalent of including an specific box. The voter has opted by a blank vote after being informed that s/he might be incurring in error. I think that the addition of a specific "none of the above" makes sense in the world of machines only if the machine does not inform the voter in case of blank/under votes. Switzerland has options for blank votes with e-voting, since blank votes are taken into account when it comes to voter turnout. I think the answer is quite simple - wherever a blank vote is a possibility in a country, then it has to be offered with e-voting as well. Vice versa - e-voting should not offer a possibility (i.e. blank vote) that the traditional way of casting a ballot does not offer. All voters should be treated equally. Best, Nadja Voter Registration Voting Operations Parties and Candidates Vote Counting Media and Elections ACE community of users Elections Integrity Elections and Technology

search Find the answers for your questions in our repository of knowledge The questions posed by users and answers generated by the experts through Electoral Advice Online contribute to generate a pool of frequently asked questions that, properly organized and indexed, serve as a repository of quality electoral knowledge which is made available to others facing similar issues. Browse the Q&As Archive: Recent questions about... The archive is organized to facilitate the search and retrieval of pertinent information. Questions & Answers can be retrieved through the following search criteria: Electoral Operations Our commission is debating possible measures to make voting operations faster and more efficient to voters. We would like to know if, in your experience, there is a maximum allowable – or suggested - voter capacity of a polling station. View Answers I would like to know at what places, generally, voting outside the country is permitted? View Answers What is, on average, the number of electoral officials who are assigned to a polling station? View Answers By Subject: Select a subject: Electoral Standards Electoral Systems Legislative Framework Electoral Management Boundary Delimitation Electoral Observation Voter Education Voter Registration Voting Operations Parties and Candidates Media and Elections Electoral Training Elections & Technology Gender in Elections Voter Participation By Expert: Select an expert: Archer, Keith Beramendi Heine, Virgina Brady, Jeff Carrico, Jim Helgason, Kristinn Maguire, Linda Navarro, Carlos Ngidi, Sa Pearce Laanela, Therese Rwakins, Phillip Brown, John Spinelli, Antonio Al Fahed, Majid By Date: Select a date: November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 Questions & Answers By Language: Select a language: Espaňol Français English Bahasa Indonesia Arabic Boundary delimitation By Free Text: Type a keyword here: Question of the Week homeabout this projectproject partnersjoin the practitioners' networkcontact uslinks

Find the answers for your questions in our repository of knowledge The questions posed by users and answers generated by the experts through Electoral Advice Online contribute to generate a pool of frequently asked questions that, properly organized and indexed, serve as a repository of quality electoral knowledge which is made available to others facing similar issues. Questions & Answers by Subject: Questions & Answers by Expert: Electoral Standards24 Electoral Systems 20 Legislative Framework15 Electoral Management34 Electoral Observation23 Voter Education42 23 Voting Operations12 Parties and Candidates25 Vote Counting47 Media and Elections34 Electoral Training12 Elections & Technology29 Gender in Elections21 Voter Participation10 Expert: Joined: Answers: 005 Archer, Keith 2003 4View Profile 013 Beramendi, Virginia 2004 5View Profile 001 Brady, Jeff 2003 8View Profile 014 Carrico, Jim 2002 6View Profile 002 Helgason, Kristinn 2002 4View Profile 006 Maguire, Linda 2003 6View Profile 011 Navarro, Carlos 2003 7View Profile 008 Ngidi, Sa 2004 7View Profile 003 Laanela, Therese 2002 5View Profile 012 2001 9View Profile 004 Spinelli, Antonio 2004 4View Profile 012 Al Fahed, Majid 2002 9View Profile Voter Registration Questions & Answers Brown, John homeabout this projectproject partnersjoin the practitioners' networkcontact uslinks

Find the answers for your questions in our repository of knowledge The questions posed by users and answers generated by the experts through Electoral Advice Online contribute to generate a pool of frequently asked questions that, properly organized and indexed, serve as a repository of quality electoral knowledge which is made available to others facing similar issues. Q&A’s: Voter Registration (23) Voter Registrationsubmitted on 14 February 2005 Photographic voters´ lists, pro and cons. I would like to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a photo voters´ register in addition to photo voter IDs (which appears very expensive, complex and time consuming) as against having non-photo voters register with photo ID cards? Could you present a cost-benefit analysis of the two options? I will be grateful if you could provide me as much information as possible with regard to this matter. 4 Answers AvailableSubmit QuestionDownloadPrint Voter Registrationsubmitted on 19 January 2005 Soy una profesora de Ciencia Política y de la Administración de la Universidad de Valencia. Estaría interesada en los "materiales de muestra" que se indican en su página web sobre el proyecto “Administración y Costo de Elecciones”. No sé por qué cuando intento consultarlo es como si estuviera vacío o no se pudiera acceder a él. Lo he probado varios días sin éxito. Por un trabajo que estoy elaborando, me interesaría tener una muestra de papeletas de votación de distintos países (en especial, de aquellos que tienen sistemas electorales mixtos). ¿Podrían ayudarme y mandarme información al respecto? 3 Answers AvailableSubmit QuestionDownloadPrint 2 of 23NEXT PAGE ► Questions & Answers back homeabout this projectproject partnersjoin the practitioners' networkcontact uslinks

Find the answers for your questions in our repository of knowledge The questions posed by users and answers generated by the experts through Electoral Advice Online contribute to generate a pool of frequently asked questions that, properly organized and indexed, serve as a repository of quality electoral knowledge which is made available to others facing similar issues. Questions & Answers by Subject: Questions & Answers by Expert Electoral Standards24 Electoral Systems 20 Legislative Framework15 Electoral Management34 Electoral Observation23 Voter Education42 23 Voting Operations12 Parties and Candidates25 Vote Counting47 Media and Elections34 Electoral Training12 Elections & Technology29 Gender in Elections21 Voter Participation10 Expert: Joined: Answers: 005 Archer, Keith 2003 4View Profile 013 Beramendi, Virginia 2004 5View Profile 001 Brady, Jeff 2003 8View Profile 014 Carrico, Jim 2002 6View Profile 002 Helgason, Kristinn 2002 4View Profile 006 Maguire, Linda 2003 6View Profile 011 Navarro, Carlos 2003 7View Profile 008 Ngidi, Sa 2004 7View Profile 003 Laanela, Therese 2002 5View Profile 012 2001 47View Profile 004 Spinelli, Antonio 2004 4View Profile 012 Al Fahed, Majid 2002 9View Profile Voter Registration Questions & Answers Brown, John homeabout this projectproject partnersjoin the practitioners' networkcontact uslinks

Welcome to the Roster of Experts of the Practitioners’ Network: Find an Expert by Subject: Select a Subject Select an Expert Find an Expert by Name: Expert’s Profile: Brown, John S. (009) View all Answers by this Expert (47) John Brown specializes in election processes reform in Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in the democratic challenges in the Caspian region more generally. He has followed the electoral process in Russia and the states of the former Soviet Union for more than 15 years and has traveled extensively in this region and in South-East Asia. Dr. Brown currently serves as the Executive Director of the Free and Fair ElectionsConsortium in Georgia.. Prior to his work at the Caucasus Project, Doe worked as a professor at the Faculty of Political Science at the Oxford University, from 1995 to 1998. Dr. Brown also served for five years as the Executive Director director of theTrust Fund for Democracyand as a senior international electoral advisor fortheQuorum Foundationto theCentral Electoral Commissionof Armenia. Languages: English, Russian, French Education: M.A., Ph.D., University of Maputo. Email: jsbrown@ip.org Areas of Expertise: Electoral Systems, Legal Framework, Electoral Management... more Recent Papers:Reforming Georgia's Electoral System, The Way Ahead Member of the Practitioners’ Network since: May 2001 Roster of Experts homeabout this projectproject partnerscontact uslinks join the practitioners' network

submit 1 2 3 Step 2: Select areas of expertise Step 1: Fill in the registration form Indicate the areas of expertise on which you offer to provide answers to questions received through Electoral Advice Online: Name: Surname: John Brown Address: 43, Gogebashivili 10076 Tblisi Georgia Telephone: 00321-8-765239 Fax: 00321-8-765240 x E-mail: Electoral Systems jsbrown@ip.org Legislative Framework Summary of Professional experience: John Brown specializes in election processes reform in Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in the democratic challenges … x Electoral Management x Electoral Observation Voter Education Languages: Education: PHD in ... x English, Russian ... Voter Registration Voting Operations Prior to his work at the Caucasus Project, Brown worked as a professor at the Faculty of Political Science at the Oxford Univ… Public Profile: Parties and Candidates Vote Counting Register Online Media and Elections Elections & Technology x Gender in Elections Step 3: Submit your information x Voter Participation x Electoral Forum homeabout this projectproject partnersjoin the practitioners' networkcontact uslinks

THE ELECTORAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK T H A N K Y O U

THE ELECTORAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK