Insertar texto aqui

1
Observing the Use of Electoral Technologies A
Manual for OAS Electoral Observation Missions
Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, Ph.D. Chief, Electoral
Studies and Projects Department for Electoral
Cooperation and Observation Secretariat for
Political Affairs
March 19, 2010
2
Electoral Technology in the Americas Background
Biometric Registries E-voting Remote e-voting (internet) Others
Bolivia (2009) Brazil (2014) Jamaica (2001) Brazil Mexico at the State level Federal District, Coahuila and Chiapas United States Venezuela None so far E-registration of candidates, electors, electoral mapping, transmission of results (TREP) systems, Google mapping.
Costa Rica Peru Jamaica Costa Rica Paraguay Peru
3
OAS Electoral Observation

• International Electoral Observation refers to
  the process through which an organized group of
  voluntary citizens foreign to the host country
  carries out, in a systematic manner, a series of
  activities to directly, completely and accurately
  assess the degree to which a member states
  election complies with national electoral laws
  and international norms and standards of
  legitimacy and transparency.
• ii. Electoral Observation Mission is the
  instrument through which international election
  observation is conducted.

4
Some Facts about OAS Electoral Observation
Missions (OAS/EOMs)

• More than 180 electoral observation missions
  since 1962.
• More than 3.000 international observers deployed
  throughout the Americas.
• Elections observed in 28 (of 34) member
  countries.
• OAS observes in response to the invitation of the
  Member State.
• EOMs may last from 15 days to 6 months-1 year
  (average duration 30 days).
• Development and systematization of various
  methodologies and tools for electoral
  observation.
• Signatory to the International Declaration for
  International Electoral Observation and Code of
  Conduct (2005).

5
OAS/EOM Structure
6
Standards for Election Observation The Concept
of Democratic Elections
Inclusive Elections Are all citizens effectively enabled to express their preferences in elections? Clean Elections Are voters preferences respected and faithfully recorded? Competitive Elections Is the electorate offered an unbiased choice among candidates? Elective Public Offices Are the main political offices filled through regular elections?

• Components, sub-components, indicators-
  questionnaire administered on a representative
  sample.
• Based on three basic interamerican legal
  instruments American Convention on Human Rights
  (1969), American Declaration of the Rights and
  Duties of Man (1948), Interamerican Democratic
  Charter (2001).

7
Guidelines for Election Observation
Standardizing methods and tools in OAS/EOMs,
2006-Present

• In light of the growing use of information
  technologies in the region, and as part of its
  process of systematizing and standardizing tools
  and methodologies for its Electoral Observation
  Missions (OAS/EOMS), DECO has developed a series
  of methodologies to help the organization improve
  its election observation tools.
• Manual for OAS Electoral Observation Missions
  (2009)
• Methods for Election Observation A Manual for
  OAS Electoral Observation Missions (2007)
• OAS Methodology for Media Monitoring during
  Electoral Observation Missions (in process)
• Methodology for Integrating a Gender Perspective
  into OAS Electoral Observation Missions (EOMs) A
  Manual for OAS/EOMs (in process)
• Methodology for Observing the Use of Electoral
  Technologies

8
Observing the Use of Electoral Technologies A
Manual for OAS Electoral Observation Missions
(2010)
9
Observing the Use of Electoral Technologies A
Manual for OAS Electoral Observation Missions
(2010)

• Purpose to identify the aspects that should
  generally be considered in the observation of
  elections in which technology is a factor in each
  of the three stages of an electoral process
• Pre-electoral stage
• Election Day
• Post-electoral stage
• Uses the manual was designed for long-term and
  short-term observers, the Core Group of an
  OAS/EOM, particularly the Information Systems
  Specialist.

10
Observing the Use Electoral Technology by
OAS/EOMs How it is done?

• During the set-up of the Mission, Core Group
  under the guidance of the Information Systems
  Specialist carry out an analysis of the situation
  in terms of the use of technologies (legal
  framework, interviews with EMBs, site visits,
  parties, observation of tests, etc).
• Core Group and Information Systems Specialist
  (ISS) fill out Questionnaire for a Highly
  Automated Process
• ISS prepares an Executive Report with
  complementary documentation.
• ISS presents Report to Chief of Mission.
• IS prepares guidelines for technical observation
  in the field.
• General Coordinator and ISS adapt the
  standardized questionnaire for electoral
  observers based on the information collected.
• General Coordinator and ISS prepare training
  sessions for long-term and short-term observers.

11
What aspects are observed by OAS/EOMs
PRE-ELECTORAL PHASE

• Analysis of the legal framework emphasizing the
  use of technology in the electoral process.
• Process of registration of political
  organizations, candidates and oversight of
  election campaigns.
• Electoral Registry and the Voter List.
• Electoral Mapping.
• Dissemination of the voter list.
• Electoral Organization Process.
• Electronic Voting.
• System for Transmission of Preliminary Election
  Results (TREP).

12
Principles/Guidelines for E-Voting What does OAS
observe?

1. Authentication-ensuring who votes.
2. Uniqueness of the vote-one voter-one vote, result
   cannot be modified.
3. Anonymity-voter not associated with the vote,
   thus guaranteeing secrecy of the ballot.
4. Impossibility of coercion- voter should not
   demonstrate how he/she voted, impeding vote
   buying
5. Accuracy-System should record votes correctly and
   securely.
6. Verification (traceability)-Voter obtains receipt
   from the voting system.
7. Ability to be audited-be able to verify each and
   every vote.
8. Reliability-Systems should work properly, without
   losing votes.

13
Principles/Guidelines for E-Voting What does OAS
observe?
10. Flexibility-equipment should be flexible in
terms of formats uses, language and
compatibility. 11. Accessibility-Individuals with
limitations and disabilities should have the
necessary access to vote. 12. Ease of use-Easy
for voters, regardless of educational level, to
cast a ballot. 13. Cost efficiency
Economy-Accessible and easily reusable, should be
competitive with cost of traditional voting. 14.
Ability to be certified-by the EMB, political
parties, social organizations. 15.
Invulnerability-System must block manipulation at
all levels. 16. Openness-access to information
about how the system works.
14
E-Voting What to observe in the Pre-Electoral
Stage?

• To make sure that the identification system and
  the voting system are not connected or
  interlinked, in order to guarantee the secrecy of
  the vote.
• Observe tests and simulations conducted by the
  EMB (steps in the voting system, receipt and
  presentation of results), including what
  contingency plans are in place.
• Observe whether the system has any special
  certification of e-voting, and under which
  standards was the certification given (e.g. ISO
  norms, others).
• If Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE) Systems are
  used, verify the certainty with which the system
  can read and identify data and marks on the
  ballot.
• If an internet-based voting system is used,
  verify systems in place to reliably identify the
  voter (PINs, electronic signature, etc) and to
  guarantee the protection of the information
  through encryption.

15
Electronic Voting What should the OAS/EOM
observe on Election Day?

• 1. Opening of the voting process with e-voting
• Observe if the polling station has all the
  necessary equipment and systems. Has the
  electronic voting box been set to zero?
• OAS observers should pay attention to the
  conditions and time in which the voting process
  opens at the designated polling station
  (following the standardized questionnaire).
• 2.Voting
• Does the machine display the list of
  candidates/political parties?
• Is a fingerprint-capture system used to identify
  citizens?
• Does it print out a receipt, which the voter must
  deposit in a ballot box?
• Observers should pay attention to the procedures
  used for voter identification and casting ballot.
• 3. Closing
• Are votes tallied automatically? Are results
  transmitted automatically and online? Is there a
  printed receipt of the electronic vote? Can
  audits be conducted with those?
• Also observes the process of dismantling and
  packing up the installation and safekeeping of
  the systems.

16
Electronic Voting What should the OAS/EOM
observe in the Post-Electoral Stage?

• The OAS observes the entire progression of the
  processing, presenting and publishing of the
  election results.
• Are results received in electronic form?
• Are results produced automatically? Are results
  presented automatically?
• How are results displayed? -Terminals, Screen,
  Internet?
• Are the results audited? Do political actors have
  access to all stages?
• The OAS EOM observes how the EMB resolves any
  later challenges by political actors.

17
E-Voting Some Reflections

• For the Member State implementing it or
  considering its implementation
• Implementation responds to a sovereign decision
  (weighing costs and benefits, context, acceptance
  by electors, literacy and e-literacy factors,
  etc)
• Balance between speed and security, on one hand,
  and transparency and accessibility, on the other.
• Regulations for the application of technology are
  needed.
• Accountability is key.
• Training sessions are necessary (both for EMB
  staff, the citizenry and specially political
  party auditors).
• Civic education campaigns are needed.
• Printed guidelines for e-voting should be
  available.
• Political actors and domestic/international
  observers should be present during the tests and
  simulations conducted.
• Need to design a communication strategy to inform
  the press about the process, make them
  knowledgeable and ensure press coverage is fair.

18
E-Voting Some Reflections

• For organizations conducting International
  Electoral Observation
• Two conditions to be observed secrecy of the
  vote and the accurate representation of the
  intention of the voter.
• Conditions for the adequate observation of
  e-voting should be guaranteed legally (access to
  information, equipment and procedures)-Agreement
  on Procedures for Electoral Observation.
• Advance presence in the country should be allowed
  to observe trials and simulations, and make
  recommendations, if requested.
• Member state should also allow site visits,
  access to timetables, sources, audits.
• Procedures (methodologies, manuals, etc) for
  electoral observation must be disclosed to the
  Member state.
• Adequate training for LTOs and STOs on how to
  observe e-voting must be conducted (procedures,
  how to collect information, how to transmit it).
• Coordinate efforts with other international
  organizations conduction election observation.