Burundi: Observation of the Constitutional Referendum 2005 (continued)

The electoral material

• At the Primary school of Muberure, in Benga, and Kanyosha (Bujumbura-rural), there was shortage of materials for 30 minutes, especially ink, ballot papers and envelopes.
• In Rubuye III (Ngozi) there were not enough ballot papers. Moreover, one voters roll was missing.
• In Mutimbuzi there were no benches and tables.
• In almost all the provinces the ink was easily removable.
• The voting activities stopped temporarily in Muramvya due to shortage of material.
• In Camp Muzinda there was no table. The officials wrote on packed boxes.
• In Bubogora (Rutana) they had wrong voters rolls.

The electoral officers

• In Bukemba (Rutana) certain campaign organizers displayed irresponsible attitudes that intimidated voters and they were not well trained for their responsibilities as electoral officers.
• In certain areas of the country the voting stations were not closed at 4:00pm as stipulated by the law, although there were no more voters. The officers waited till 6:00pm to close.
• In Rutana many people voted on behalf of others without proxies.
• In Kajabure (Bururi) the members of the polling stations were not impartial. In their explanation to the voters they clearly suggested that the voters vote "yes".
• In Matongo, some members of the polling stations could not read the voters rolls correctly.
• In Ruziba a campaign organizer shamelessly advocated a "no" vote position.
• In certain areas of the country political party delegates wore hats or other party insignia.
• In Mukenke (Bwambarangwe) COSOME observers noticed that at least one electoral officer did not direct voters properly; he possibly did so on purpose!

Voters behavior

The main observation was that the voters were not well informed about electoral procedures. Some voters were even afraid at the polling stations and voting booths. However, they were enthusiastic about exercising their civic rights. COSOME observers noticed that, in general, the voters behaved well. Nevertheless, they recorded a few instances of poor attitude. Some voters refused to enter the voting booth and voted publicly. In Gihosha for example a former Minister refused to enter the voting booth and asked publicly where to throw the black ballot paper. There was also a case where an RTNB journalist voted publicly in the Rohero-Vugizo voting center.

A member of a political party, after voting in Vugizo-Rohero, shouted loudly "Tora ego mwese", meaning "Everyone, vote Yes". In Bwiza, an unhappy voter who could not find his name on the voters roll tore up his receipt. In Mabanda a voter tore up his neighbor's voter registration card because the neighbor refused to vote "Yes"! In the Primary school of Murambi, in Buganda, Cibitoke, two young boys came to vote with receipts that were not theirs. They would have caused a disturbance was it not for intervention by the security forces. In Cankuzo, Bujumbura-city, Bujumbura-rural, Bubanza and Karusi, people voted on behalf others without proxies. Due to ignorance many voters put the ballot papers in the waste bag. In Muyinga and Bujumbura, voters would not allow the red ink to be used on their receipts. Jehovah's Witnesses also flatly refused the red ink, in accordance with their church's regulations.