Burundi: Observation of the Constitutional Referendum 2005 (continued)

The counting

In general the counting operations proceeded well. In many centers counting proceeded by flashlights and the candles and the operation started a bit late in the night. In some centers (case of Mwaro) the political agents acted as counters, whereas they were supposed to be observers. In Karusi, Primary school of Buhinyuza II, only COSOME observers and the members of the Polling stations were present at the counting centres. In Cankuzo province it was reported that journalists became impatient and disturbed the counting that was in progress. In Ngozi, the staff members managed the question of spoilt votes badly. Votes were treated as spoilt by some that others would regard as valid. For example, at some stations ballots without envelops were considered spoilt, while elsewhere they were considered valid. In Bujumbura-city the members of the offices struggled to work by flashlights whereas electric light was available not far off from them.

At many centers it was not necessary to declare the results publicly because there were no witnesses or voters present; the latter had already gone home. In some centers, apart from the electoral officers, there were only COSOME observers as witness. Even the administrative authorities did not follow the counting, and in fact the administrators had left before the completion of counting. When asked if the counting went well, COSOME observers responded "yes".

Conclusion and recommendations

The voting operations went well. However, COSOME deplores the few instances of wrong attitude mentioned above, especially the lack of respect for the secrecy of vote, lobbying executed at the point of voting, misconduct by of some officials, not to mention the indiscipline of some security agents in charge of discipline, peace and order. Some political party delegates showed lawless attitudes that must be denounced. Some of them sat at the voting centers without any distinguishing mark. COSOME makes a few recommendations to improve things so that the next electoral process will have fewer irregularities:

1. It is necessary that the staff members are independent and impartial.
2. It is necessary that the staff members be well trained to carry out their work correctly.
3. No propaganda should be allowed at the voting stations. The leaders of the political parties must forbid their partisans from engaging in illegal lobbying and from carrying badges of their political parties at the voting stations.
4. The electoral law must be made widely accessible so the voters can assimilate it and, consequently, observe its contents scrupulously.
5. All the institutional mechanisms of the State must function and complement the important work of the CENI and the Civil Society Organizations.
6. The next elections must be well prepared in order to minimize irregularities that could affect the legitimacy of the vote.
7. Agents who direct the voters according to the number on their receipts are required. These agents should have that job only and be located away from the voting station itself.
8. The electoral officers should wear distinctive signs.
9. The observers and the administrative authorities should show a sense of responsibility and not leave the voting stations before the counting is completed.