1. Domestic Election Observation and Reporting

2. Electoral Observation
The Electoral Cycle
Post-Election
Legal Framework
Verification of Results
Planning & Implementation
srt trm
Voting Operations and Election Day
Training and Education
Electoral Campaign
Voter Registration
long term
medium term

3. Pre-election Observation (1)
1 ) Constitutional and legal framework for elections
Critical question : How does the framework uphold principles and ethos of democracy ?
2 ) Boundary delimitation
Critical issues : population size; convenience and accessibility of voters; pre-existing administrative and electoral district boundaries
3 ) Voter registration
Critical Issues : Inclusivity, accessibility, susceptibility to fraud etc
4) Election administration
Critical Issues : Composition, appointment and mandate of Election Management Body

4. Pre-election observation (2)
5) Registration of political parties and candidates
Critical issues : Laws and regulations governing registration of parties and candidates
6) Voter Education
Critical Issue : Comphrensiveness and information content, user friendliness including for people living with disabilities
7) Election campaign
Critical issues : rules governing campaigns, security issues, funding of parties/resources etc

5. Election Day Observation (1)
Voting Process
Areas of focus :
1) Polling Stations
Location (accessibility, political, demography, infrastructure)
Opening
Closure

6. Election Day Observation (2)
2) Election Materials (ballot papers, ballot boxes, booths, forms, etc)
quantities
user friendliness (handicapped)
security

7. Election Day Observation (3)
Secrecy of Ballot
Polling Station layout
Ballot papers
Logistics
Timely distribution of
election material
Appropriate quantities

8. Election Day Observation (4)
Voters’ roll
Multiple voting
Intimidation
Security of the poll
Level of voters’ understanding of the process

9. Election Day Observation (5)
Counting Process
Clear procedures
Transparent
Security
Staff training
Accuracy
Time frame for results processing

10. Election day and election observation (6)
General environment
Order
Peaceful/Tense

11. Election Observation Reporting

12. Election Observation Reporting
After election day, observers usually return to their secretariat for debriefing and reporting
Type of reports:
1 ) Preliminary statement
Captures a summary of the observation made, recommendations and conclusion of the observation
Produced while EOM is still on ground

13. Election Observation Reporting (2)
2) Final Report
Comprehensive report on the entire observation
Can be produced after one or two months
Both preliminary statement and final report are sent to relevant election stakeholders such as EMBs, CSOs, political parties etc

14. Structure of Report 1 ) Preliminary Report Introduction :
Composition and period of deployment
Objectives of the Mission
Assess whether conditions existed for the conduct of elections that allow the people of Seychelles to freely express their will;
Assess and determine whether the elections were conducted in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework for elections in Seychelles;
Determine whether the final results of the electoral process as a whole reflect the wishes of the people of Seychelles; and
Assess whether the elections met the benchmarks set out in PEMMO, SADC Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections etc

15. Preliminary Report (II)
Methodology of Observation
Areas of deployment
Interaction with stakeholders
Attendance to election campaign rallies
Observation of voting and counting operations
Benchmarking instruments used
Preliminary Findings
Benchmarked on the legal framework, regional and international instruments
Voter education, political tolerance, citizen participation in elections, voting and counting, results management

16. Preliminary Report (III)
Recommendations
Areas of improvement based on the Mission’s assessment
Conclusions
A balanced appraisal of the whole observation process, and should explicitly state the Mission’s position regarding the electoral process

17. Report Structure (II) Final Report Executive summary
Political and electoral background
The Electoral Framework
The Pre-election Phase
The Election Phase
The Post Election Phase
Conclusions and Recommendations

18. Final Report (II) 1)The Executive summary
A synopsis of the entire of observation covering type of elections observed, number of observers and regions deployed, instruments used to assess the electoral process, and conclusions made.
2) The Electoral Framework
This is the institutional and legal context within which the elections are being organised
The Constitution
The Electoral Act
The electoral system
The political party registration and funding Act
The code of conduct
The Electoral Management Body –appointment, composition, funding, powers and functions

19. Final Report (III) 3) The Pre-Election Phase 4) The Election Phase
Voter Registration
Candidate nomination process
Voter education and information
Election campaign
Media coverage of the electoral process
4) The Election Phase
Polling station and provision of election material
Voter’s roll and voter turn out
Voting operations : polling clerks, opening and closing of polls, voting procedures, security, voting from abroad, party agents, observers etc
Counting process

20. Final Report (IV) Results auditing Results centres
5) The Post Election Phase
Results auditing
Results centres
Announcement of results
6) Conclusions and Recommendations
Findings and conclusions
Recommendations and areas of improvement