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Report/Paper
Promoting Electoral Access for Citizens with Disabilities: Considerations for Nigeria, INEC-Civil Society Forum Seminar on Agenda for Electoral Reform, 27-28 November 2003, Abuja, Nigeria
The right to participate in and stand for election is a fundamental human right. According to Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in Article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions: (a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives’ (b) To vote and be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors; (c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.” The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights sets an international standard for the conduct of the elections and the right of participation in that process. In reviewing the Constitutional and legal framework of Nigeria’s electoral process, it is important to ensure that this framework meets international standards, while taking into account the nation’s experience and political and social environment. The right of participation of “every citizen” is one that must be guaranteed by law and by the way the electoral process is conducted. In Nigeria, citizens with disabilities face legal as well as practical barriers to equal participation in the electoral process. However, this electoral review affords the opportunity to ensure that the rights of citizens with disabilities are protected by law and by practice. There is no reliable data on how many of Nigeria’s approximately 120 million citizens live with some sort of physical or mental disability. Nigerian census officials last submitted statistics on disability to the United Nations over 12 years ago, estimating at that time that .5 percent of the population was disabled. This figure is not comparable to the international norm and is a severe under-estimate. In the United States, at least 6% of population has some form of obvious disability – is blind or visually impaired; deaf; a wheelchair user or has an intellectual disability. However, with Nigeria’s incidence of polio, nutritional problems and difficulties with access to healthcare, the percentage of Nigerians with obvious disabilities is likely to be higher – perhaps 10% or more. With an estimated population of 120 million, that would be more than 12 million citizens with disabilities – half of whom are of voting age, at least some 6 million people. This, of course, does not take into account persons with hidden or even undiagnosed disabilities, such as learning disabilities, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, etc. Section 17(2) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution states that “every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before law.” Do the Constitutional and legal provisions governing the conduct of elections guarantee this right for those Nigerian citizens with disabilities? Are Nigerians with disabilities able to equally participate in and stand for election?
November 26, 2003
Publication
Report/Paper
Reforming Critical Operational Strategies: INEC Post-Election Seminar, "2003 General Elections: The Lessons and the Way Forward" 28-30 July 2003
Constitutional provisions, electoral legislation, regulations and the policies and the administrative framework of the electoral management body all govern the means by which elections are conducted. Providing an opportunity for all eligible voters to choose their government representatives, through operations that are cost-effective, credible and secure is a major challenge for election management bodies. In reviewing the operational strategies of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria in its conduct of the 2003 federal and state elections, it is necessary to examine the major areas of its operational approach. In any electoral environment, there are similar key issues for which effective solutions have to be found if election operations are to promote public confidence in the integrity and professionalism of electoral management, and acceptance of election results. Some questions to ask in conducting this review are: 1. What are the most suitable arrangements for voter registration and for voting? 2. What are the ways to ensure that registration centres and polling stations are run by trained and professional staff? 3. What materials can be used to ensure the credibility of the process? 4. What are the logistics strategies, to ensure the necessary materials are available and that the operations run efficiently? INEC’s operational strategies, within the legislative and administrative framework, dictate how the elections are conducted, and whether their outcome will be accepted by the participants. If the operational strategies are successful, all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate fully in the process; registration centres and polling stations open on time and the periods of operations are respected; materials are adequately supplied and properly used; all necessary registration and election staff are present and conduct their duties according to the law and regulations; and the election results are compiled in a transparent manner, announced in a timely fashion and accepted, leading to the inauguration of the newly-elected officials. Shortcomings in the operational strategies lessen the credibility of the electoral process and in confidence of the electoral management body, paving the way for future difficulties with regard to respect for the conduct of elections and the democratic process as a whole.
July 27, 2003
Publication
Report/Paper
Targeted Assistance to the Voter Registration Process: IFES Final Activity Report May 2000-June 2002
This report is a narrative of IFES Albania program activities under the CEPPS I funding mechanism from May 2000- June 2002. During the period covered in this report IFES was involved with the CEC in preparation for the local government elections of October 2000; the revision of the national voter registry; preparing for and administering the election to the National Assembly in June 2001; the 'clean-up' of the national election including an assessment of the process and identification of future activities of the CEC; and conduct of surveys of local election officials and the judiciary. This document reports on all of these items.
July 31, 2002
Publication
Survey
2001 Nationwide Survey of Zone and Local Government Election Officials
The aim of this report is to present key findings from the first nationwide survey of local election officials, held in November and December 2001 in Albania. During this period, both local government and zone election officials were interviewed, with the objective of seeking their views on a range of topics relating to election administration and their experiences during the parliamentary elections in 2001. This report has been produced for the Central Election Commission, following an extensive analysis of the results and the extraction of key findings by the International Foundation for Election Systems. The survey findings highlight various improvements as identified by the election officials and potential focus areas for the Central Election Commission, local election commissions and political parties, leading up to the local government elections in 2003. This report contains three sections. Part one contains a brief overview of the election officials survey project, the structure of the questionnaire and the classification system used for grouping responses in this report. Part two of this report highlights key findings based on data collated and analyzed by IFES. For easy reference, findings are presented both as percentages and totals, in one of seven topic areas. In part 3 of this report, IFES offers comments and observations in a number of areas in the context of future requirements for the improvements of the democratic electoral process in Albania.
June 30, 2002
Publication
Survey
2002 Nationwide Survey of the Judiciary
This report presents results from the first nationwide survey of the Albanian judiciary, undertaken by the International Foundation for Election Systems during the month of February 2002. The findings presented in this report are based on data collated from 301 members of the Albanian judiciary at district court, appeals court and constitutional court level. This report is composed of three parts. Part one provides an overview of the survey project and the methodology followed to achieve the project objectives. Part two presents some of the key results from the survey by topic area covered by the interviewer and questionnaire. In part three IFES offers comments and observations about the findings and the role of the judiciary in the election disputes resolution process. This survey has proved to be a useful tool for measuring the level of experience and opinions of the judiciary thereby providing a clear understanding of the challenges faced and the priorities for judicial training prior to the local government elections in 2003.
May 31, 2002
Publication
Report/Paper
Albania Final Report: April 1998-September 2000
This report summarizes IFES Albania program activities
from April 1998 through September 2000. The report reviews IFES advice given to the Central Election Commission, discussions regarding a new constitution, civic education and the drafting of a new electoral code.
November 30, 2000
Publication
Report/Paper
Report on the Impact of IFES Activities in Nigeria, November 1998 to April 1999
This report describes IFES’ activities in Nigeria and the impact of IFES technical assistance to the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) voter education project.
May 26, 1999
Publication
Report/Paper
Rapport de l AAEA et de l IFES sur l observation des elections de transition au Nigeria (December 1998 - February 1999)
Ce rapport est base sur les constatations des observateurs a long terme de l'IFES, sur place au Nigeria de novembre 1998 a avril 1999, et sur les missions AAEA/IFES visant a observer trois des quatre élections de transition: les élections des gouvernements locaux du 5 décembre 1998, celles de l'Assemblée nationale du 20 février 1999 et l'élection présidentielle du 27 février 1999 (des délègues de l'IFES ont observe les élections des Etats du 9 janvier).
March 28, 1999
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Presidential Election (Basic Constitutional and Transitional Provisions Decree 1999)
Presidential Election (Basic Constitutional and Transitional Provisions Decree 1999)
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
State Government and National Assembly Law
State Government and National Assembly Law