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Electoral Law Reform in Kenya: the Iebc Experience

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Electoral Law Reform in Kenya: the Iebc Experience ELECTORAL LAW REFORM IN KENYA: THE IEBC EXPERIENCE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION 1 1 Contents FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 10 2 METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH....................................................................................... 12 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 12 Legal Framework ................................................................................................................ 12 Relevant International Treaties and Conventions .......................................................... 13 Review of Judicial Decisions .............................................................................................. 13 Public Participation ............................................................................................................. 13 3 ELECTORAL SYSTEM .................................................................................................................. 16 Criteria for Assessing the Electoral Systems ...................................................................... 16 Accountability .................................................................................................................. 16 Representativeness ...................................................................................................... 17 Fairness ......................................................................................................................... 17 Equal Rights for Each Voter ....................................................................................... 17 Indicative factors to be considered under this head include that each voter’s vote has the same value in the election process. .................................................................... 17 Promotion of Relatively Effective and Relatively Accountable Government ..... 17 Development of Relatively Strong Parties and Relatively Strong Local Representatives ............................................................................................................................ 17 The system provides accountability through simplicity and a relatively precise reflection of citizens’ preferences. ............................................................................................. 17 How well does the electoral system allow the voters to express their choices precisely in a manner that is simple enough for all voters to understand? ......................... 17 Reconciling Inherent Contradictions ................................................................................ 18 The Effect of Political Systems ........................................................................................... 18 IEBC Submissions on the Electoral System ....................................................................... 18 Recommendation ................................................................................................................ 19 4 ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT BODY IN KENYA .................................................................... 20 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 20 Background of the Electoral Management Body in Kenya ............................................ 20 Functions of the Commission ............................................................................................ 21 Appointment of Commissioners ....................................................................................... 22 Procedure for Appointment .............................................................................................. 22 2 Quorum in Commission Meetings .................................................................................... 23 Financing of the Commission ............................................................................................ 23 Institutional Challenges ...................................................................................................... 23 Comparative analysis .......................................................................................................... 24 EMB in South Africa ............................................................................................................ 24 The Australian Electoral Commission ............................................................................... 25 The EMB in Canada ............................................................................................................ 25 The EMB in India ................................................................................................................ 26 The EMB in the UK ............................................................................................................. 27 Commonalities Cutting Across the Electoral Commissions in the Countries Studied . 28 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 29 Recommendations Relating to Appointment of Commissioners .......................... 29 Recommendations on the Question of Quorum in Commission Meetings ........ 30 Recommendation on Financing of the Commission .............................................. 30 Recommendations on Institutional Challenges ....................................................... 30 5 BOUNDARY DELIMITATION ................................................................................................... 31 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 31 Guiding Principles ............................................................................................................... 31 Comparative Analysis ......................................................................................................... 32 The UK ................................................................................................................................. 32 The USA ............................................................................................................................... 35 Ghana ................................................................................................................................... 36 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 37 6 REGULATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES .................................................................................. 38 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 38 Character and Funding of Political Parties ....................................................................... 38 Challenges in Regulation of Political Parties .................................................................... 39 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 39 7 ELECTIONS BY WAY OF PARTY LIST ...................................................................................... 40 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 40 Submission of Party Lists .................................................................................................... 41 Review of Party Lists .......................................................................................................... 41 Publication of Party Lists .................................................................................................... 42 Allocation of Special Seats.................................................................................................. 42 Party List Formula ............................................................................................................... 42 3 Hare Quota.......................................................................................................................... 43 Droop (or Hagenbach-Bischoff) Quota .................................................................... 43 Imperiali formula ................................................................................................................ 44 Comparatives across the world ......................................................................................... 44 Germany .............................................................................................................................. 44 South Africa ......................................................................................................................... 44 Operational Challenges in Conducting Party List Elections in Kenya ........................... 45 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 45 8 VOTER REGISTRATION ...........................................................................................................
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