OSCE trains election committees in Kosovo on how to improve voter services
Voter registration for the Kosovo general elections is still in full swing. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 12 September 2001 (OSCE) - Providing a better service to voters on election day is the focus of a training programme taking place around Kosovo this week under the auspices of the OSCE.
The course is for the chairpersons of the local committees, which will be present at each and every polling station on election day. The polling station committee members - all of whom are from Kosovo - operate alongside the OSCE, the international polling station supervisors and the Municipal Election Commission (MEC) covering their area. Their job is to ensure the integrity and security of the voting process and to make sure that voting takes place in a calm, orderly manner.
The training is designed to help the polling station committees avoid or deal with some of the very practical problems, which occurred on polling day last year. It looks at the particular responsibilities of the committees, such as explaining the voting process to people and dealing with congestion. It also pays special attention to how they can facilitate voters with special needs, such as the illiterate and the disabled.
The programme is being co-ordinated by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), which provides training in election management and administration. More than 60 sessions are taking place all over Kosovo until 18 September. The training teams comprise one international trainer and two local trainers, including an MEC member.
For this year's election, the political entities can nominate up to four of the five members of the polling station committees. The fifth member can be nominated by the NGO sector, as long as that person does not hold a senior position in any of the political entities certified to contest the elections.
This year more severe penalties will be imposed if committee members turn up late, fail to carry out their duties properly on election day or seriously impede or jeopardize the electoral process. Under the Central Election Commission rule, the political entities and non-governmental organizations concerned will be held responsible and could be fined up to 250,000 DM.
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For further information, contact OSCE Spokesperson Claire Trevena, tel: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260; mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; or e-mail: press@omik.org.
The course is for the chairpersons of the local committees, which will be present at each and every polling station on election day. The polling station committee members - all of whom are from Kosovo - operate alongside the OSCE, the international polling station supervisors and the Municipal Election Commission (MEC) covering their area. Their job is to ensure the integrity and security of the voting process and to make sure that voting takes place in a calm, orderly manner.
The training is designed to help the polling station committees avoid or deal with some of the very practical problems, which occurred on polling day last year. It looks at the particular responsibilities of the committees, such as explaining the voting process to people and dealing with congestion. It also pays special attention to how they can facilitate voters with special needs, such as the illiterate and the disabled.
The programme is being co-ordinated by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), which provides training in election management and administration. More than 60 sessions are taking place all over Kosovo until 18 September. The training teams comprise one international trainer and two local trainers, including an MEC member.
For this year's election, the political entities can nominate up to four of the five members of the polling station committees. The fifth member can be nominated by the NGO sector, as long as that person does not hold a senior position in any of the political entities certified to contest the elections.
This year more severe penalties will be imposed if committee members turn up late, fail to carry out their duties properly on election day or seriously impede or jeopardize the electoral process. Under the Central Election Commission rule, the political entities and non-governmental organizations concerned will be held responsible and could be fined up to 250,000 DM.
--
For further information, contact OSCE Spokesperson Claire Trevena, tel: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260; mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; or e-mail: press@omik.org.