Electoral integrity must be protected through strict protocols - CSS urges EC

The Centre for Socioeconomic Studies (CSS) has called for heightened vigilance from the Electoral Commission (EC), observer missions, and other stakeholders to ensure a transparent and fair election process.

In a statement released on December 3, 2024, CSS highlighted concerns over lapses within the EC, particularly in the handling and transfer of electoral materials. These lapses could lead to ballot theft, tampering, and delays, compromising the integrity of the elections.

“Analysis of publicly available data points to operational lapses and breaches within the EC, particularly related to compliance with electoral laws and handling protocols.

“These issues, including improper custody and handover of electoral materials, heighten the risk of ballot theft, tampering, delays, and disruptions,” it stated.

The CSS further emphasised the need for strict protocols to safeguard election materials, pointing to the risks posed by inexperienced presiding officers.

“Electoral integrity must be protected through strict protocols for the custody and transfer of election materials. Inexperienced presiding officers, in particular, pose a significant threat to the security of election materials.

“If not addressed, these issues could undermine public confidence in the process and tarnish the EC’s reputation,” it noted.

It also warned about vulnerabilities in the voter verification process, specifically related to the manual verification system, which could be exploited for political gain, citing concerns about voter impersonation and fraud.

“Evidence presented to the CSS suggests the profiling of voters by certain political figures, as well as the appointment of politically aligned individuals to manage polling stations.

“This increases the risk of manual verification being exploited for political gain,” it noted.

The CSS called for strict adherence to the Ballot Reconciliation Procedure to ensure accurate ballot accounting at every polling station.

“Strict adherence to this procedure at every polling station is necessary to prevent ballot accounting issues and ensure the legitimacy of the election results,” it noted.

The CSS recommended allocating sufficient time for audits before announcing results, underscoring the importance of process integrity over speed.

“To address these concerns, the EC must allocate adequate time for thorough polling station audits before announcing results. Elections should prioritise the integrity of the process over speed,” it added.

The Centre stressed the need for secure packaging and sealing of ballots after the polls close to prevent tampering with election materials during transport.

“Both the EC and political parties must prioritize the secure packaging and sealing of ballots, ensuring that no materials are tampered with after the polls close,” it noted.

Read the full statement below:







JKB/MA

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