Lesotho: The importance of drawing election observers from civil society (continued)

The role of the domestic observer group

Each domestic observer group will develop its own role depending on the context within which it operates.

However, there are general roles which they usually perform.

Ten possible roles of domestic observer groups:

1. To observe the poll.
2. To work towards the establishment of an independent election authority (if one is not already established).
3. To ensure equal voting rights and practices.
4. To guarantee equality of opportunity.
5. To monitor post-election redress mechanisms.
6. To develop democratic practices.
7. To assist political parties without bias.
8. To promote research and cross fertilisation of ideas.
9. To understand the legislation and lobby for change.
10. To pursue civic and voter education.

1. To observe the poll.

In many countries electoral processes not only come under strain because of peculiar political realities, but they also suffer from structured deficiencies.

Therefore, an observer organisation needs to undertake regular efforts to strive for institutional arrangements conducive to genuine elections.

While it its hoped that organisations working towards improving democratic accountability will naturally die out, most people agree that this is not going to happen in the near future.

Election observer groups can assist the development of a democratic culture in both developed and developing Democracies

2. To work towards the establishment of an independent election authority

An independent election authority (commission) is a crucial component in the development of a democratic culture and fair electoral process. The goal of a functioning, non-partisan, professional election commission is to ensure that the electoral procedures are undertaken efficiently and without bias.

What should the approach of the observer group be? Through continuous monitoring of the election authority's work between elections (if it exists between elections), the observer group can evaluate both its independence and efficiency. It can also lobby for implementation of observer group recommendations.

Ideally, the commission should not only be independent but it should also exist on a continuous basis. In some countries, the commission is dissolved after the election and re-formed prior to the next one.