Don’t Leave the Military Alone with the Ballots, IFES suggests
Ok maybe they’re not sleeping.
(Actually IFES is an excellent organization that produced probably the most accurate book about democracy in Yemen. )
YT
IFES also recommended training security forces and establishing their work agenda during the electoral process, as well as suggesting that the SCER impose its own authorities to prevent the intervention of security forces.The foundation also stressed the importance of requiring electoral committee members to accompany security forces throughout all voting phases, especially when transporting ballot boxes.
Recommendations further included checking all printing houses, storage systems and transportation to ensure their sufficiency, as well as manually counting photocopied ballots.
IFES also suggested inventorying all materials to be transported and delivered. It asserted that SCER employees should work impartially to ensure the contents of such materials prior to handing them over, as well as ensure that a safe local storehouse exists for ballot boxes not counted before.
Additionally, IFES demanded that SCER employees monitor all phases involving photocopying, cutting and distributing ballots, as well as calling observers to attend the ballot production process.
Thats it. As much as there are a wide variety of unfair, illegal, violent and just downright sleezy practices occuring against the opposition, the transportation and counting of the ballots is where the system is most vulnerable. Update: actually no, the good news is the ballots get counted on the spot as soon as the voting ends in front of the election obsevers and there should be enough observers to cover every polling station.
