Elections in Sudan - Day Three

Juba, Southern Sudan
April 13, 2010

Another interesting day in the capital of Southern Sudan.  Most polling locations throughout the country now have the original Registration booklets which has allowed many more people to vote.  The heads of polling locations in the north and west of Juba have report they have been able to increase the casting of ballots by 20-40%.

Once the election is complete, we will have a fuller picture of how the elections have proceeded, but for the moment, in addition to issues of free and fair elections, the persistent logistical issues will a major issue of these elections in the South.

The system of ballots, polling staff and materials which have been incorrectly delivered will play a roll in the success or failure of these elections.

System of Ballots

The process of voting is an unnecessarily complex process that requires each voter to cast twelve separate ballots in four separate bins.

Voters arrive at the polling location, and after finding their registration are instructed to dip their fingers in green ink.  They are then allowed to proceed to the first table to receive their ballots for executive elections.  At this station, there are three ballots (with green, blue or orange headers) which represent the elections for the President of the republic of Sudan, the President of the Government of Southern Sudan and the Governor of the state were the polling center is located.

Voters have three more elections which each have their own table at polling locations.  The National Assembly, State Assembly and the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly.  Voters can vote for parties in a proportional election.  Also, women and the political parties are guaranteed a certain percentage of seats, so voters are given the choice from which parties they shall be picked.

Although part of the election process was to inform Sudanese citizens of the voting system, this information is not readily available and most Southern Sudanese are not entirely sure how there vote translates into representation.

At polling locations, it is fairly common to see someone cast the executive ballot and attempt to head directly for the exit, but polling staff tend to catch them.

Polling Staff

Each polling location has a total of seven people who are responsible to ensure the balloting process is followed.  There is a Head of the polling location, one Identification Officer and four Ballot Paper Issuers.  Each has a specific job so no one is able to take breaks during the ten hours reserved for voting.

Often times, polling locations have been set up in open areas where the sun beats down throughout the day.  While some polling centers have received awning materials so they can set up in the shade, no location has received food or water.  Some polling locations have received large coverings that keep the sun off the polling staff and voters, but for the majority of outside locations, staff members are very uncomfortable.

Polling staff are very vocal about these issues and some have threatened to shut locations down unless these issues are corrected.

Materials

The United Nations has been responsible for the delivery of non-sensitive election materials, including the ballot boxes, the cardboard stands on which people cast their vote, but it has been the responsibility of the National Election Commission to arrange the safe delivery of ballots, tamper-evident seals, ink, etc. to polling locations.

It is a very common sight around Juba to enter a polling location and find polling staff quietly sitting around sealed ballot boxes not allowing people to vote because certain ballots are missing.

Oftentimes, one of the state legislative ballot papers at one polling center will have been switched with another polling center on the other side of town.  Polling staff are unable to make the switch themselves because of protocols, cost of moving between polling locations and they have been instructed to be at the polling location throughout the day.