Newsroom
Polling station committees to provide better service to voters in Kosovo municipal elections
PRISTINA 17 October 2002
PRISTINA, 17 October 2002 - Providing a better service to voters on Elections Day is the focus of a training programme taking place in an around Kosovo under the auspices of the OSCE.
The training is designed for the members of the local committees, which will be present at each and every polling station on Elections 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, particularly the secrecy of the ballot. They will also make sure that voting takes place in a calm, orderly manner.
The programme conducted by OSCE Mission in Kosovo provides training in election management and administration. Training sessions will take place until 22 October, for over 9,000 committee members in Kosovo, as well as 1,100 committee members in Serbia proper and Montenegro. The training teams comprise one international trainer and two local trainers, including an MEC member.
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 during previous two election rounds. There is a focus on the particular responsibilities of the committees, such as explaining the voting process to people, maintaining order and facilitating voters with special needs.
Training of polling station committee members is part of the ongoing OSCE effort to hand over more competencies to citizens of Kosovo and increase their participation in organising the elections.
Their tasks are an essential part of the electoral process, so committee members must not only be properly trained but also be committed to carrying out their work. This year 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 jeopardise the electoral process. Under the CEC rule, the political entities and NGOs concerned will be held responsible and could be fined substantially.
The training is designed for the members of the local committees, which will be present at each and every polling station on Elections 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, particularly the secrecy of the ballot. They will also make sure that voting takes place in a calm, orderly manner.
The programme conducted by OSCE Mission in Kosovo provides training in election management and administration. Training sessions will take place until 22 October, for over 9,000 committee members in Kosovo, as well as 1,100 committee members in Serbia proper and Montenegro. The training teams comprise one international trainer and two local trainers, including an MEC member.
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 during previous two election rounds. There is a focus on the particular responsibilities of the committees, such as explaining the voting process to people, maintaining order and facilitating voters with special needs.
Training of polling station committee members is part of the ongoing OSCE effort to hand over more competencies to citizens of Kosovo and increase their participation in organising the elections.
Their tasks are an essential part of the electoral process, so committee members must not only be properly trained but also be committed to carrying out their work. This year 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 jeopardise the electoral process. Under the CEC rule, the political entities and NGOs concerned will be held responsible and could be fined substantially.