Nr. 1(13)/2016

ź Ana Maria PĂTRU – Mă simt responsabilă pentru fiecare alegător care nu se prezintă la vot ź Campania de informare a cetățenilor români din străinătate privind exercitarea dreptului de vot la alegerile parlamentare din anul 2016

Member of: ź Dan VLAICU – Training Electoral Stakeholders – The Need for a Specialized Electoral Experts’ Body: Romania’s Experience ź George Tee FORPOH, Olugbemiga Samuel AFOLABI – Trends and Pattern of Voting and Elections in Liberia ź Octavian Mircea CHESARU – Innovation Processes Undertaken by the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania ź Denisa MARCU, Alina GHERGHE – Involving Citizens in Election Administration. The Romanian Electoral Experts’ Body

Working Group on Elections

ź Bogdan FĂRTUȘNIC – Procesele electorale organizate în România–interes și percepție–raport de cercetare Journal indexed in: ź Nicoleta GRIGORE, Octavian Mircea CHESARU – Procesul de instruire a operatorilor de calculator ai birourilor electorale ale secțiilor de votare din Municipiul București

SUMAR

Preşedintele Autorităţii Electorale Permanente Ana Maria PĂTRU: Mă simt responsabilă pentru fi ecare alegător care nu se prezintă la vot – interviu realizat de Politic Scan ...... 3 Campania de informare a cetăţenilor români din străinătate privind exercitarea dreptului de vot la alegerile parlamentare din anul 2016 ...... 7 Studii, analize, comentarii Dan VLAICU – Formarea persoanelor implicate în procesul electoral – Necesitatea existenţei unui Corp al experţilor electorali: cazul României ...... 11 George Tee FORPOH, Olugbemiga Samuel AFOLABI – Tendinţele şi tiparul votării şi alegerilor în Liberia ...... 21 Octavian Mircea CHESARU – Metode inovatoare adoptate de Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă din România ...... 35 Denisa MARCU, Alina GHERGHE – Implicarea cetăţenilor în administrarea alegerilor. Corpul experţilor electorali din România ...... 43 Rapoarte, sinteze şi informări Bogdan FARTUŞNIC – Procesele electorale organizate în România – interes şi percepţie – raport de cercetare ...... 49 Nicoleta GRIGORE, Octavian Mircea CHESARU – Procesul de instruire a operatorilor de calculator ai birourilor electorale ale secţiilor de votare din Municipiul Bucureşti ...... 63

SUMMARY Permanent Electoral Authority President Ana Maria PĂTRU: I Feel Responsible for Each Voter who Doesn’t Vote – Interview Done by Politic Scan ...... 3 Information Campaign for the Romanian Citizens Abroad on Exercising Their Right to Vote in 2016 Parliamentary Elections ...... 7 Studies, analyses, opinions Dan VLAICU – Training Electoral Stakeholders – The Need for a Specialized Electoral Experts’ Body: Romania’s Experience ...... 11 George Tee FORPOH, Olugbemiga Samuel AFOLABI – Trends and Pattern of Voting and Elections in Liberia ...... 21 Octavian Mircea CHESARU – Innovation Processes Undertaken by the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania ...... 35 Denisa MARCU, Alina GHERGHE – Involving Citizens in Election Administration. The Romanian Electoral Experts’ Body ...... 43 Reports, syntheses and briefi ngs Bogdan FARTUŞNIC – Electoral Processes in Romania – Interest and Perception – Research Report ...... 49 Nicoleta GRIGORE, Octavian Mircea CHESARU – Training Programme of Computer Operators of the Electoral Bureaus of the Polling Stations in Bucharest Municipality ...... 63 PREŞEDINTELE AEP ANA MARIA PĂTRU: MĂ SIMT RESPONSABILĂ PENTRU FIECARE ALEGĂTOR CARE NU SE PREZINTĂ LA VOT

Ana Maria PĂTRU Președintele Autorității Electorale Permanente

Interviu realizat de Politic Scan

Ne afl ăm în an electoral, ca atare înseamnă doar structura centrală şi conducerea şi instituţia pe care o conduceţi devine de acesteia şi faptul că pregătirea şi organizarea interes pentru foarte multă lume. Puţini ştiu alegerilor începe, pentru AEP, cu mult înaintea însă cu ce se ocupă efectiv AEP. anilor electorali. A fost o perioadă în care cetăţenii nu Revenind la confuzia AEP – BEC, făceau distincţie între Autoritatea Electorală vreau să precizez că în ultimii ani percepţia Permanentă şi Biroul Electoral Central. opiniei publice despre instituţia noastră s-a Pentru mulţi, AEP era o instituţie care lucra schimbat. Electoratul a înţeles că atribuţiile doar în perioada alegerilor, fi ind confundată noastre în materie de alegeri sunt de natură cu Biroul Electoral Central. Un coleg de tehnică şi organizatorică, deasupra oricăror la o fi lială ne-a povestit că, fi ind abordat interese partizane, şi că suntem o instituţie în deseori cu întrebarea „Ce faceţi voi când nu slujba cetăţeanului. Suntem partenerul cetă- sunt alegeri?”, la un moment dat a răspuns ţeanului, îl ajutăm să se informeze corect, astfel: „În primul trimestru, am purtat peste îl îndrumăm să-şi exercite drepturile electo- 1.300 de convorbiri telefonice, am trimis rale, îl încurajăm să se implice în procesele peste 1.200 de e-mailuri şi am parcurs peste electorale. Obiectivul fi nal al proiectelor 19.000 km în teritoriu, cam de şase ori lungi- noastre, fi e că e vorba de Registrul electoral, mea frontierelor României, am organizat 250 de informatizarea secţiilor de votare sau de de activităţi de îndrumare şi control la primării, Corpul experţilor electorali, este câştigarea am realizat opt controale privind fi nanţarea încrederii cetăţenilor în puterea votului lor şi partidelor politice şi a campaniilor electorale în corectitudinea alegerilor. la fi lialele judeţene ale partidelor politice, am Şi prin aceasta am răspuns parţial realizat cinci acţiuni de informare şi educare la întrebarea dumneavoastră. Sigur, AEP în rândul cetăţenilor şi asta nu e tot.” se ocupă cu multe alte aspecte, cum ar fi : Am dat acest exemplu pentru a scoate fi nanţ area activităţii partidelor politice şi a în evidenţă două aspecte: faptul că AEP nu campaniilor electorale şi controlul aferent

3 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 acestor activităţi, instruirea ofi cialilor elec- femei. AEP a urmărit cu interes şi îngrijorare torali, administrarea Registrului electoral, evoluţia participării femeilor la viaţa politică. a Registrului secţiilor de votare, crearea şi După ultimele alegeri parlamentare, gestionarea Corpului experţilor electorali. cele din 2012, un studiu realizat de instituţia noastră arăta că prezenţa femeilor în De ce în acest an se vorbeşte de AEP Parlament în 2012 era de 11,5% – de două mai mult decât în alţi ani electorali? ori mai mare decât în prima legislatură de Ne afl ăm într-un an electoral special, după căderea comunismului, dar de două cu două rânduri de alegeri generale, care vor ori mai mică decât media de 24% din avea loc după alte reguli decât cele de până statele membre ale Uniunii Europene. acum, ca urmare a modifi cărilor aduse legilor În 2014, an în care am deţinut preşe- privind alegerile locale şi cele parlamentare. dinţia Asociaţiei Ofi cialilor Electorali Euro- E de înţeles interesul faţă de AEP, dat fi ind peni (ACEEEO) şi am organizat la Bucureşti faptul că prin noua legislaţie a căpătat cea de-a 23-a Conferinţă a Asociaţiei, tema atribuţii sporite, în primul rând legate de dezbătută de cei peste 150 de invitaţi din 60 de gestionarea a două mari proiecte pe care eu le ţări a fost „Participarea femeilor în procesele consider revoluţionare: Sistemul informatic electorale şi în viaţa publică”. AEP a pledat de monitorizare a prezenţei la vot şi de constant pentru egalitatea de gen în funcţiile ş ş ă ţ prevenire a votului ilegal şi Corpul experţilor publice i a reu it s infl uen eze decizia poli- ă ţ electorali. tic în privin a bonusului fi nanciar acordat ă De asemenea, ochii sunt aţintiţi spre partidelor politice care promoveaz femei în AEP şi pentru că, începând din acest an elec- alegeri pe locuri eligibile. Numirea mea de către Parlament în toral, instituţia are un rol-cheie în fi nanţarea funcţia de preşedinte al AEP este o dovadă că campaniilor electorale. După cum ştiţi, campa- şi în România se schimbă vechile mentalităţi. niile electorale vor fi fi nanţate din bani publici, Cuantifi când activitatea mea în cei patru ani sumele cheltuite de candidaţi urmând a fi ram- la conducerea AEP, pot spune că aceasta bursate după alegeri de către AEP. confi rmă cel puţin una dintre calităţile femeii: Autoritatea a devenit o instituţie de aceea de bun organizator. Am reuşit, în primul interes şi pentru românii din străinătate, după rând, să creez în jurul meu o echipă cu care ş ţ ă ce legiuitorul a introdus i institu ia noastr am dus la îndeplinire atribuţiile AEP şi am ţ în ecua ia privind organizarea alegerilor iniţiat proiecte curajoase, care şi-au dovedit ţă parlamentare pentru românii din afara rii. în timp viabilitatea. În România s-a inoculat ţ Reforma legisla iei electorale a schim- ideea că şeful unei instituţii este însăşi bat regulile şi a împărţit atât atribuţiile, cât şi instituţia. Eu nu sunt de acord cu această responsabilităţile. Pe lângă AEP şi Guvern, gândire, întrucât o instituţie are o conducere angrenajul managementului electoral cuprinde vremelnică, dar ea este un organism unitar, numeroase alte instituţii: Guvernul, Ministerul al cărui succes depinde de toţi cei care îl Afacerilor Externe, Ministerul Afacerilor compun, fi e că sunt referenţi, consultanţi, Interne, STS, INS, Poşta Română, prefecţi, consilieri, directori sau demnitari. Împreună primari. cu echipa, am dezvoltat structura teritorială a AEP, am iniţiat proiectele despre care v-am Una dintre temele populare printre vorbit, am elaborat strategii de comunicare oamenii politici de azi este cea a accesului cu electoratul şi am făcut cunoscută în lume femeilor în funcţii de conducere importante. această instituţie tânără, care în ţară ba era Ana Maria Pătru este unul dintre exemplele confundată cu Biroul Electoral Central, ba reuşite din acest punct de vedere. Cum este era ignorată de-a dreptul. Vă aminteam mai să fi i femeie şi să ai în responsabilitatea ta devreme de faptul că am fost la conducerea votul a milioane de oameni? ACEEEO, asociaţie internaţională la care Tema este preocupantă la nivel mondial, am aderat în anul 2004. La un an de la de aceea este poate şi atât de populară printre numirea mea în fruntea AEP, instituţia a

4 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 devenit membru al Asociaţiei Mondiale a a votului ilegal şi Corpul experţilor electorali. Organismelor Electorale (A-WEB), a cărei Sunt proiecte iniţiate şi gestionate de AEP preşedinţie o voi deţine timp de doi ani, şi ele trebuie să fi e funcţionale la alegerile începând cu 2017. AEP a reuşit să câştige locale din 5 iunie. Încă de la sfârşitul anului respectul unui organism internaţional de trecut, am demarat campania de recrutare referinţă pentru domeniul electoral – mă a operatorilor de calculator ai secţiilor de refer aici la Comisia de la Veneţia, care, votare şi a experţilor electorali. Avem zeci pentru prima dată în istoria activităţii sale, de mii de cereri, oamenii noştri lucrează la organizează anul acesta la Bucureşti, în întreaga capacitate pentru procesarea acestora parteneriat cu AEP, cea de-a 13-a Conferinţă în termenele prevăzute de lege. Europeană a Organismelor de Management Noua lege pentru alegerea autorităţilor Electoral. administraţiei publice locale a introdus Siste- Ca preşedinte al AEP, mă simt respon- mul informatic de monitorizare a prezenţei la sabilă pentru fi ecare alegător care nu se vot şi de prevenire a votului ilegal (SIMPV), prezintă la vot şi mă întreb dacă AEP a făcut cu aplicabilitate în premieră la alegerile locale destul pentru a-i convinge pe toţi cetăţenii din 5 iunie 2016. Informatizarea secţiilor de să îşi exercite acest drept fundamental. De votare este un proiect iniţiat de AEP şi folosit aceea, prioritatea mea şi a echipei AEP este cu succes în cadrul unui program-pilot la ale- ţ ş informarea şi educarea cetăţenilor şi cel mai gerile parlamentare par iale din 2010 i 2011. ş important obiectiv este creşterea prezenţei la Sistemul este implementat i gestionat de vot. AEP, cu sprijinul Serviciului de Telecomu- nicaţii Speciale şi al Institutului Naţional de Care este relaţia clasei politice cu Statistică, pe baza datelor şi informaţiilor din AEP? Care este relaţia AEP cu partidele Registrul electoral, Registrul secţiilor de votare politice şi candidaţii? şi din listele electorale complementare. Utilizarea acestui sistem informatic AEP este o instituţie de management face practic imposibile tentativele de electoral autonomă şi independentă în raport fraudare prin vot multiplu şi asigură o cu clasa politică, ceea ce nu exclude o relaţie informare exactă, în timp real, cu privire fi rească, constantă şi corectă cu aceasta. la prezenţa la urne. ă Cu partidele politice ne intersect m Corpul experţilor electorali este o ţ prin natura atribu iilor AEP, stabilite prin altă provocare pentru AEP în anul electoral ţ Legea nr. 334/2006 privind fi nan area acti- 2016. Introdus prin noua lege a alegerilor ăţ ş vit ii partidelor politice i a campaniilor parlamentare, Corpul experţilor electorali electorale. Relaţia noastră cu partidele politice reprezintă o bază de date creată şi administrată se realizează prin intermediul mandatarilor de AEP, cuprinzând persoane care pot fi fi nanciari ai acestora. Noi acordăm partidelor preşedinţi ai birourilor electorale ale secţiilor subvenţia de la bugetul de stat, controlăm de votare sau locţiitori ai acestora. Cei care fi nanţarea acestora şi aplicăm sancţiuni. În vor îndeplini aceste funcţii la alegeri vor anii electorali, interacţiunea AEP cu partidele fi desemnaţi de AEP, prin tragere la sorţi politice şi cu candidaţii independenţi va computerizată. fi mai intensă, deoarece legea prevede că Prin această modalitate, prerogativele Autoritatea rambursează acestora cheltuielile privind desemnarea preşedinţilor birourilor de campanie electorală, evident dacă sunt electorale ale secţiilor de votare şi a locţiito- întrunite condiţiile legale. ri lor acestora se transferă din sarcina pri- marilor şi a prefecţilor în aceea a Autorităţii Care sunt, din punctul de vedere al Electorale Permanente. O astfel de procedură AEP, provocările anului electoral 2016? va asigura profesionalizarea ofi cialilor electo- Pentru AEP, marile provocări ale anu- rali, va elimina orice suspiciune privind o even- lui electoral 2016 sunt Sistemul informatic de tuală politizare a acestor numiri şi va asigura o monitorizare a prezenţei la vot şi de prevenire mai mare transparenţă procesului electoral.

5 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

Admiterea în Corpul experţilor că la alegerile din acest an vor fi zeci de mii electorali se poate face pe bază de aviz, de cetăţeni pe care îi veţi regăsi în secţiile de pentru persoanele care au mai deţinut votare ca operatori de calculator, preşedinţi funcţia de preşedinte al biroului electoral ai biroului electoral al secţiei de votare sau al secţiei de votare sau locţiitor al acestuia, locţiitori ai acestora. şi pe bază de examen, pentru cei care nu Implicarea lor în alegeri va conferi ţ au îndeplinit anterior aceste func ii. proceselor electorale un plus de transparenţă. Votul prin corespondenţă este o altă Alegerile nu vor mai fi percepute ca apanaj premieră pentru sistemul electoral românesc. exclusiv al autorităţilor, la care cetăţeanul nu are Parlamentul a adoptat o lege dedicată exclu- ă ţ siv votului prin corespondenţă şi a stabilit ca alt atribu ie decât de a introduce buletinul de acesta să fi e utilizat doar la alegerile pentru vot în urnă. Implicarea cetăţeanului în calitate Senat şi Camera Deputaţilor din anul 2016. de expert electoral sau operator de calculator Potrivit acestui act normativ, Ministerul Afa - în secţia de votare este, până la urmă, o altă cerilor Externe şi Compania Naţională „Poşta formă de manifestare democratică a poporului Română” sunt instituţiile responsabile cu or - şi o garanţie suplimentară a corectitudinii şi ga nizarea şi desfăşurarea procedurilor pri- transparenţei scrutinului, ceea ce va duce la vind votul prin corespondenţă, iar AEP oferă creşterea încrederii electoratului în alegeri. sprijin tuturor instituţiilor implicate. Legea prevede că pot vota prin cores- Ce a făcut AEP pentru a convinge pondenţă doar cetăţenii români cu domiciliul cetăţenii să se implice astfel în procesele sau reşedinţa legal stabilite în străinătate care electorale? se înscriu în Registrul electoral cu opţiunea Am cerut sprijinul cetăţenilor prin pentru acest tip de vot. Perioada de înscriere diferite mijloace, folosind toate canalele de începe în data de 1 aprilie 2016 şi se încheie la care dispunem. Am realizat videoclipuri, ghi - două zile după începerea perioadei electorale duri, pliante, postere, pe care le-am postat pe pentru alegerile parlamentare. toate platformele de comunicare ale instituţiei Marele pariu al AEP în acest an pare (site-ul, pagina ofi cială de Facebook, cana- a fi sistemul de informatizare a secţiilor lul de Youtube, reţeaua Twitter) şi le-am de votare. Este acest proiect un pariu deja distribuit în ţară, la primării, la sediile fi lia - câştigat? lelor şi birourilor noastre judeţene. Dar cel Pentru mine, care înţeleg pe deplin mai important demers din cadrul acestei benefi ciile acestui proiect, este un pariu campanii l-au constituit întâlnirile şi discu- câştigat, însă, pentru cetăţeanul pe care îl ţiile directe cu cetăţenii din ţară şi din străi- simt încă sceptic, nu m-aş hazarda să-l declar nătate. Am mers şi vom mai merge în centre câştigat decât după ce va trece primul test, universitare, întrucât pentru funcţia de ope- cel al alegerilor locale din 5 iunie 2016. Prin rator de calculator al secţiei de votare contăm acest proiect, bine implementat de Serviciul mult pe sprijinul studenţilor, al tinerilor în ţ ş de Telecomunica ii Speciale i AEP, îmi general. ă ă ăţ ă doresc s red m cet eanului încrederea c Facem apel la cetăţeni să se înscrie votul lui este în siguranţă. în continuare pentru Corpul experţilor Vă aşteptaţi ca cetăţenii de rând să electorali şi pentru poziţia de operator de participe în alegeri şi ca experţi electorali calculator, pentru că există încă destule şi operatori de calculator ai birourilor elec- localităţi unde înregistrăm defi cit. torale ale secţiilor de votare, nu numai ca Legea permite cetăţenilor să fi e impli- votanţi. În ce măsură acest gen de implicare caţi în alegeri, să contribuie la democra- a cetăţenilor va infl uenţa alegerile? tizarea procesului electoral şi sunt optimistă Nu doar că ne aşteptăm la acest gen că, începând cu anul 2016, AEP va deveni de implicare a cetăţenilor, este o certitudine principalul partener al cetăţeanului în alegeri.

6 CAMPANIA DE INFORMARE A CETĂŢENILOR ROMÂNI DIN STRĂINĂTATE PRIVIND EXERCITAREA DREPTULUI DE VOT LA ALEGERILE PARLAMENTARE DIN ANUL 2016

Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă (AEP) a demarat, încă de la fi nalul anului 2015, o amplă campanie de informare a cetăţenilor români cu domiciliul sau reşedinţa în străinătate cu privire la modalităţile pe care aceştia le au la dispoziţie pentru a-şi exercita dreptul de vot în cadrul alegerilor parlamentare de anul acesta. Campania are la bază intrarea în vigoare a Legii nr. 208/2015 privind alegerea Senatului şi a Camerei Deputaţilor, precum şi pentru organizarea şi funcţionarea Autorităţii Electorale Permanente şi a Legii nr. 288/2015 privind votul prin corespondenţă, precum şi modifi carea şi completarea Legii nr. 208/2015 privind alegerea Senatului şi a Camerei Depu- taţilor, precum şi pentru organizarea şi funcţio- narea Autorităţii Electorale Permanente. Pentru a asigura informarea corectă şi oportună a românilor din afară ţării în tăţilor de români primesc de la ofi cialii AEP legătură cu variantele şi procedurile de vot şi un set de materiale tipărite: „Ghidul ale- prevăzute de noua legislaţie, AEP a iniţiat, în gătorului român din străinătate”, pliantele parteneriat cu Ministerul Afacerilor Externe „Votezi. Expediezi. Contezi”, „Expertul elec- (MAE), campania „Dialog cu diaspora”. toral” şi „Operatorul de calculator în secţia de votare”. Calendarul sesiunilor Până în prezent, delegaţiile AEP au de informare avut sesiuni de informare cu reprezentanţii comunităţilor de români din Viena, Madrid, Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă Barcelona, München, Bonn, Bologna, Roma şi-a propus un dialog direct cu românii din şi Atena, în perioada imediat următoare fi ind diaspora, pentru a-i putea sprijini cu maxi- programate evenimente similare în Londra, mă efi cienţă în toate demersurile legate de Edinburgh şi Leeds. exercitarea drepturilor electorale. În acest scop, a fost stabilit un calendar al sesiunilor Austria de informare a comunităţilor româneşti din afara graniţelor asupra modifi cărilor legisla- Seria de întâlniri cu alegătorii români tive din domeniul electoral, în care sunt din afara ţării, programate în cadrul campaniei incluse localităţile din străinătate cu prezenţă de informare derulate de AEP şi MAE în românească semnifi cativă, respectiv: Madrid, legătură cu exercitarea dreptului de vot la Roma, Viena, Londra, Paris, Torino, Bruxelles, alegerile parlamentare de la sfârşitul acestui Frankfurt, Dublin, Milano, Bonn, München, an, a debutat la Viena. Bologna, Brescia, Verona, Florenţa, Castellon, Preşedintele AEP, Ana Maria Pătru, Barcelona, Coslada,Alcala de Henares, Getafe, alături de ministrul delegat pentru relaţiile cu Arganda del Rey, Mostoles, Chişinău. Cu oca- românii de pretutindeni, Dan Stoenescu, şi zia acestor întâlniri, reprezentanţii comuni- de ambasadorul României la Viena, Bogdan

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Întâlnirea cu ofi cialii AEP şi MAE le-a oferit reprezentanţilor comunităţilor de români din Germania ocazia de a primi lămuriri şi explicaţii pe tema modalităţilor şi procedurilor de vot valabile la alegerile pentru Senat şi Camera Deputaţilor, în con- textul modifi cărilor aduse legislaţiei în dome- niu. Aceştia au solicitat informaţii detaliate privind înscrierea în Registrul electoral şi exercitarea dreptului de vot prin cores- pondenţă, prevederi introduse în premieră în legislaţie pentru românii din străinătate şi Mazuru, au participat în data de 11 februarie aplicabile la alegerile parlamentare din anul 2016 la o reuniune dedicată informării cetă - 2016. ţenilor români din Austria pe tema varian- Preşedintele AEP, Ana Maria Pătru, telor şi procedurilor de vot prevăzute de noua i-a încurajat pe participanţii la discuţii legislaţie electorală pentru alegerile parla- să distribuie comunităţii de români din men tare. Germania atât informaţiile şi explicaţiile La întâlnirea găzduită de Ambasada primite cu ocazia acestor întâlniri, cât şi României la Viena au participat reprezentanţi materialele tipărite. ai comunităţii româneşti din Austria, ai presei de limbă română şi ai clerului de origine română din această ţară, precum şi membri ai unor asociaţii româneşti. Subiectul care a suscitat un interes major a fost cel legat de votul prin cores pon- denţă, variantă pe care cetăţenii români cu drept de vot din străinătate o pot utiliza în premieră la alegerile parlamentare din acest an.

Spania

În perioada 18 – 22 februarie 2016, o Italia delegaţie a Autorităţii Electorale Permanente condusă de vicepreşedintele instituţiei, În perioada 3 – 6 martie, o delegaţie Dan Vlaicu, s-a întâlnit cu reprezentanţi condusă de preşedintele AEP, Ana Maria ai mediului asociativ şi ai comunităţii Pătru, s-a afl at în Italia, fiind alcătuită din româneşti din Madrid şi Barcelona pentru a ministrul delegat pentru relaţiile cu românii discuta despre noile prevederi legislative din de pretutindeni, Dan Stoenescu, consilierul de domeniul electoral, care vizează persoanele stat Sandra Pralong, senatorul Viorel Badea, cu domiciliul sau reşedinţa în străinătate. pre cum şi deputaţii Mircea Lubanovici şi Aurelian Mihai. Germania Seria întâlnirilor cu românii din Italia a fost inaugurată în data de 3 martie, la Bologna, Timp de două zile – 27 şi 28 februarie unde reprezentanţii instituţiilor din România 2016 – preşedintele AEP, Ana Maria Pătru, şi au răspuns întrebărilor conaţionalilor, încura- ministrul delegat pentru relaţiile cu românii jându-i să se implice în alegeri, atât ca votanţi, de pretutindeni, Dan Stoenescu, au avut cât şi în calitate de experţi electorali sau discuţii cu alegătorii români cu domiciliul operatori de calculator ai secţiilor de votare. sau reşedinţa în Germania, în cadrul unor Următorul moment important al depla- întâlniri găzduite de Consulatele Generale sării delegaţiei AEP l-a constituit întâlnirea ale României din München şi Bonn. organizată în data de 4 martie la Academia

8 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

mai multor festivităţi tradiţionale, dintre care una dedicată mărţişorului. Tinerii din delegaţia AEP au împărţit mii de pliante şi broşuri realizate de AEP pentru informarea alegăto- rilor români din afara ţării, iar preşedintele AEP a reiterat importanţa exercitării de către cetăţenii români din diaspora a dreptului de vot, subliniind disponibilitatea autorităţilor de resort de a face toate demersurile pentru a asigura transparenţa şi corectitudinea derulării proceselor electorale. Delegaţia AEP şi-a încheiat deplasarea cu o vizită la Biserica Penticostală Betania, din Fonte Nuova, prilej cu care a discutat cu membri ai acestei comunităţi religioase de români despre votul de la alegerile par- lamentare şi despre posibilitatea de a se implica în alegeri ca experţi electorali sau operatori de calculator ai secţiilor de votare.

di Romania, cu ambasadorul României la Roma, Dana Constantinescu, şi consulii generali ai României la Bologna, Trieste şi Torino. Preşedintele AEP a discutat cu diplomaţii români despre rolul şi atribuţiile lor în organizarea şi desfăşurarea alegerilor parlamentare şi i-a asigurat de colaborare ă ăţ deplin din partea Autorit ii în vederea Grecia atingerii obiectivului comun al unor alegeri ş transparente i corecte în diaspora. La data de 18 martie, o delegaţie din Tot la Roma, ofi cialii români au cadrul Autorităţii Electorale Permanente s-a avut ocazia să discute cu reprezentanţii deplasat la Atena în vederea participării în clerului de origine română din Italia, care cadrul unei reuniuni de lucru cu reprezentanţi şi-au manifestat disponibilitatea de a faci- ai comunităţii româneşti din Grecia, cărora lita diseminarea informaţiilor din domeniul le-au fost expuse modalităţile şi procedurile electoral, furnizate de AEP, către enoriaşii pentru exercitarea dreptului de vot de către români. românii cu domiciliul sau reşedinţa în afara În capitala Italiei a avut loc şi întâl- ţării. Evenimentul a fost găzduit de Ambasada nirea delegaţiei AEP cu peste 150 de conce- României la Atena. tă ţeni din peninsulă: lideri ai comunităţilor Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă de români, reprezentanţi ai clerului, ai presei continuă campania de informare a cetăţenilor româneşti din Italia sau simpli cetăţeni. români din străinătate cu privire la elemen- Ultima zi a turneului de informare tele de noutate de ordin legal şi procedural întreprins de demnitarii români în Italia, care vizează exercitarea dreptului de vot, respectiv ziua de duminică, 6 martie 2016, a având convingerea că implicarea acestora coincis cu „Sărbătoarea românilor”, la care au în deciziile care privesc ţara este nu doar participat peste opt mii de români, în cadrul benefi că, ci şi necesară.

9 STUDII, ANALIZE, COMENTARII

STUDIES, ANALYSES, OPINIONS TRAINING ELECTORAL STAKEHOLDERS – THE NEED FOR A SPECIALIZED ELECTORAL EXPERTS’ BODY: ROMANIA’S EXPERIENCE

Dan VLAICU former Vice President of the Permanent Electoral Authority (up to April 5, 2016)

Abstract: Abstract:

Electoral administrators are faced Managerii procesului electoral se with immense operational tasks in often confruntă cu sarcini operaționale importante challenging political environments. It is in- în medii politice cu numeroase provocări. creasingly recognised that solid professional Se admite din ce în ce mai mult că, pentru knowledge and skills are required to manage ca un proces electoral să fi e organizat electoral processes effectively, especially efi cient, este nevoie de cunoştințe şi califi cări in the context in which the international profesionale solide, mai ales în contextul în community is introducing global standards, care comunitatea internațională introduce and examples of best practice for effective standarde universale şi exemple de bună and accountable elections management. practică pentru organizarea efi cientă şi responsabilă a alegerilor.

Keywords: Electoral Experts’ Body, Cuvinte-cheie: Corpul experților training programme, voter, qualifi ed person- electorali, program de formare, alegător, nel personal califi cat

11 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

What encompasses electoral in a clear and ultimately measurable form training and who are its stakeholders? because the expected outcome is more easily defi ned. Elections are huge, complex and But, as mentioned above, it is important costly events than cannot be organized to understand why there is a need for training, and conducted without a large number of who are the stakeholders who would benefi t people who should be fully aware of their 1 from training in the electoral fi eld and how responsibilities in the electoral process. training is conducted for different types of Furthermore, all these people are accountable stakeholders. to the law, whether they are permanent or The stakeholders of an Electoral temporary staff, which makes it a necessity Management Body are those individuals, for them to know and understand not only the groups and organizations that have an interest legislation, but also the working practices and or “stake” in the EMB’s operations. They can the new technology or processes introduced. be classifi ed either as primary stakeholders, In this context, training them in the areas who directly affect or are directly affected by mentioned is essential for a good organization the EMB’s activities, policies and practices, and conduct of any electoral process. or as secondary stakeholders, who have a Electoral administrators are faced looser connection with the EMB’s activities. with immense operational tasks in often Primary stakeholders usually include challenging political environments. It is in- the following groups: creasingly recognised that solid professional  political parties and candidates; knowledge and skills are required to manage  EMB staff; electoral processes effectively, especially  the executive branch of government; in the context in which the international  legislatures; community is introducing global standards,  electoral dispute resolution bodies; and examples of best practice for effective  the judicial system; and accountable elections management.  election monitors and domestic and It is important to highlight that international election observers; effective and proper training is built upon  the media; clearly defi ned needs, and that carefully  the electorate – voters and pro spec- developed training objectives must be tive voters; established around those needs. More so, it  civil society organizations; is important to note that training is a very  the donor community and electoral specifi c activity, which is different from assistance agencies. education. While education focuses on While this is an extensive list, for learning about a subject, training focuses on each country there are specifi c groups of learning how. stakeholders that EMBs target in order to Training is a planned and organised provide training not only in the election activity for assisting participants to acquire period, but also between elections. skills and knowledge. Before planning any training in the Fundamentally, training helps some- electoral fi eld, an EMB has to identify, in one to do something better and the skills it accordance to its political and electoral develops are usually specifi c to a particular system, the following: task. Therefore, the objectives in training are  the people who are in need of elec- more specifi c than those in education. In toral training; train ing it is usually easier to state the goals  the skills and knowledge that diffe r-

1 ent groups of stakeholders will acquire; Venice Commission, Organisation of elections by an  impartial body, Science and technique of democracy how to deliver the training pro- collection, no. 41, Council of Europe Publishing, gramme to various participants taking into 2006. account their preferences and the resources

12 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 available (human, material, fi nancial re- those who have a looser connection with our sources and logistics); activities.  when and how often training for Furthermore, depending on each different groups should be conducted. type of stakeholders, PEA provides electoral Furthermore, in accordance to the training not only when elections are needs that different stakeholders have, organized and conducted, but also in the the electoral management body has to period between elections, hence there are employ different methods and techniques training programmes and sessions that have when designing the content of the training a permanent character, and others that have a programme and how it is presented to the temporary one (periodic training). participants. Taking all these aspects into A. Periodic training for electoral consideration I will present the strategies, stakeholders methods and techniques that the Permanent Electoral Authority employs in terms of The Permanent Electoral Authority training its electoral stakeholders. develops and conducts periodic training PEA’s attributions in terms of programmes for the following electoral stakeholders: training electoral stakeholders and  members of the polling stations how the training programme of the bureaus, mainly their presidents and vice- Permanent Electoral Authority was presidents; conducted up to now  authorities and institutions with The preparation, organization and responsibilities in the organization and con- conduct of the electoral process require a duct of elections;  proper training of all the persons involved in fi nancial trustees of political parties; the conduct of electoral operations, and also  international election observers; educating and informing the voters.  other EMBs in need of electoral as- For this reason, training the persons sis tance; with responsibilities in the organization • the media. and conduct of elections is one of the main tasks of the Permanent Electoral Authority 1. Training for members of the (PEA). Thus, according to the law, the PEA polling stations bureaus and for authorities elaborates and “organizes specifi c training and institutions with responsibilities in the programmes in electoral matters for the organization and conduct of elections staff of the authorities and institutions with responsibilities in the organization Up to now, the bulk of periodic of elections, for persons who may become training programme takes place during members of the electoral bureaus and for an electoral process period. In Romania, computer operators in polling stations”. the electoral period varies from 60 to 90 At the same time, in the exercise of its days, depending on the type of elections. functions, such as education and information, The training programme is designed for the PEA develops and “implements pro- members of the polling stations bureaus, grammes of information and training of mainly their presidents and vice-presidents, the electors on the Romanian electoral and for the authorities and institutions with system, and on the observance of the electoral responsibilities in the organization and deontology and ensures their popularisation.” conduct of elections. As I stated previously, PEA has to Due to the fact that one of the key respond to the needs of various groups who elements of an electoral process are the directly affect or are directly affected by our persons called upon to administer electoral activities, policies and practices, and also for procedures and operations, it is essential for

13 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 all electoral offi cials to act professionally, We develop and distribute for each otherwise the entire process is disrupted. electoral process during the national training The training programme of the programme the following materials: Permanent Electoral Authority for the  a manual regarding the regulations members of the polling stations bureaus on the electoral process, which includes a is conducted regularly at national level detailed guide for the presidents and vice- and it is aimed at training and ensuring the presidents of the polling stations bureaus; professional development of the participants.  posters containing information on For example, during 2014, when in the main electoral operations that take place Romania were held elections for the members in election day with step-by-step instructions of the European Parliament and presidential for the presidents and vice-presidents of the polling station bureaus; ones, the training sessions PEA organized  fl yers for every member of the and conducted were as follows: polling station bureau with a check-list in  173 sessions for people who were regards to the electoral operations that take eligible to become presidents and vice- place in election day. presidents of electoral bureaus; An important aspect that has to be  329 sessions for the presidents highlighted is that the manual regarding and vice-presidents of the polling stations the regulations on the electoral process bureaus (there were 37.064 persons trained is published in three versions: one that is for the European Parliament elections and solely in Romanian, another that is bilingual 37.505 for the presidential ones); (Romanian-Hungarian) due to the fact that  114 sessions for mayors and the largest ethnic minority is Hungarian, and secretaries of administrative-territorial units. a trilingual one (Romanian-English-French). Through the national training pro- Complex by its magnitude, by the gramme of the members of the electoral teaching and learning methods and materials bureaus we seek to familiarise the participants used in the training that is made available to with knowing the unitary application of all participants, this programme subscribes the regulatory framework and the specifi c to the goal of developing an electoral activities of the organization and conduct of management system in accordance with electoral processes, to help them develop the democratic values which, through qualifi ed necessary skills for solving any issues that personnel, has the purpose of forming and appear in the electoral process and, not in the refi ning a body of electoral offi cials. least, to facilitate the access to specialized Another complex training programme information in the electoral fi eld. that PEA conducts is that for the persons For this programme the technique responsible to operate in the Electoral Registry. Although the Electoral Registry used is instructor-led training, where all was used for the fi rst time in the electoral sessions are conducted face to face with processes conducted in 2014, the training the participants. The methods used include programme started at the end of 2012. a lecture component which addresses the Training participants in how to topics mentioned previously, demonstrations operate with the software application and examples in regards to various aspects “Electoral Registry” was designed both (e.g.: how to report the number of voters pre- for PEA staff and for representatives of sent in the poll, how to fi ll the statement of municipalities and prefectures. At national poll, how to establish if a ballot paper is null level there were trained 6036 people from etc.) and questions and answers sessions. 3186 municipalities and 3044 people from The training materials used during 42 prefectures, which represents a participa- these sessions are developed by the PEA and tion of 95.54% nationwide for municipalities are available to each participant not only in and 100% of the prefectures (Bucharest City print, but also in electronic format. Hall has not undergone training).

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These training sessions were held at donations that are made during the disclosure the end of 2012 and also in April 2013 and of the date of elections and the end of the there were 251 in total. The techniques used electoral campaign; were instructor-led sessions based on manuals  how to declare the election propa- developed by the PEA and computer-based ganda materials products, broken down by training in which the participants learned category; how to use the application by working with  how to report the revenue and elec- different facilities that it provides. tion expenses. Due to all these aspects and the length All these aspects are explained and and complexity of these training programmes, exemplifi ed during the instructor-led training there are numerous resources allotted by the sessions, and the participants are also being PEA. Hence, these training programmes have provided by the PEA with written materials, the following characteristics: such as:  high fi nancial costs;  guides for fi nancial trustees that are  a great number of human resources, adapted for each type of elections; as these training programmes involve all  models for various documents that PEA staff; fi nancial trustees have to elaborate (donations  various material resources and form, model of monthly statement of logistics. expenditure by category, model of reports Furthermore, because up to now there regarding the revenues and election expenses, was no permanent body of electoral offi cials, etc.). the presidents and vice-presidents of the All these materials are also available polling station bureau are a very heterogenic in electronic format on PEA’s portal. group in terms of education and experience It is also important to note that the in participating in other electoral processes. number of training sessions depends on the In this context, a two hour training number of participants. For example, in 2014 session with the average of 200 participants there was one training session organized for allows a limited accumulation of knowledge the elections for the European Parliament and skills. (17 participants), 18 for the partial local elec- Hence, while up to now the model used tions (89 participants), and one session for for organizing and conducting the training the presidential elections (24 participants). programme was satisfactory, we proposed and advocated during the electoral reform 3. Training international observers debate the development of a specialized body of electoral offi cials trained on a permanent The Permanent Electoral Authority basis. offers training sessions for international observers from foreign EMBs for each 2. Training the fi nancial trustees of electoral process. political parties In 2014, through the project “Support to Building Institutional Capacities of the Another area of training of the PEA Electoral Management Bodies and other is the one for the fi nancial trustees of the concerned target groups in the Romanian competitors in elections. The training sessions ODA priority countries”, PEA, in partnership for fi nancial trustees are organized in each with UNDP and the Ministry of Foreign electoral period, and seek to familiarize the Affairs, conducted two electoral training participants with the following aspects: programmes, one for the elections for the  the legal requirements regarding European Parliament (EP) and another for funding of competitors; the presidential ones.  what is the maximum expenditures In the case of the fi rst one, there which may be incurred in the campaign and was a seminary held on the topic of “Voter what are the legal provisions in terms of Registration”, due to the fact that the IT

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the presidential elections and the rights and obligations for international observers. The second training was designed for the participants from the Seoul Metropolitan Branch of the National Electoral Commission in South Korea.

4. Training for other EMBs in elector al assistance programmes

Currently, the Permanent Electoral Authority is one of the most active EMB system ‘Electoral Registry’ was used for providing bilateral electoral assistance the fi rst time in an electoral process in through ODA. It has a strategic vision for its Romania. The participants were familiarized international position, wanting to become a with the history of implementing the regional centre of electoral expertise and to Electoral Register, its main features, the serve as an electoral knowledge hub. It aims legal framework governing it, and they also to share Romania’s transitional experience participated in some practical demonstrations. as well as its own experience as a permanent Furthermore, they participated in a session electoral management body. Priority countries on the legal framework of the EP elections are from North Africa, in particular Egypt, in Romania and the rights and obligations for Tunisia and Libya, from Eastern Europe, and international observers. also the MENA countries.

In regards to the programme for the presidential elections there were two trainings, one for each round of elections. For the fi rst round, there were participants from Afghanistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Palestine, Iraq, Latvia, Albania, Moldova and a representative of International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The training consisted of two seminaries, one on the topic of “Financing of political parties” and the other on “Women’s participation in elections” and also a session on the legal framework for

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The main topics that PEA has offered prevent the social phenomena of hate-speech training for other EMBs are: in the electoral campaigns. The training was  EMB management and operations; aimed to familiarize the participants on how  voter registration and issues regar- to prevent hate-speech in the 2014 electoral ding Election Day, such as preparations, campaigns not only in terms of printed electoral procedures and operations, training, etc.; materials and videos, but also in the online  women in elections; content published by the media.  democratic transitions;  integrity issues including combating B. Permanent training for electoral fraud. stakeholders

5. Training programmes designed for The electoral training which has a the media permanent character is being provided by the They are generally conducted in spe- PEA on a constant basis to mayors, secretaries cifi c projects, such as “Electoral discourse of administrative-territorial units, public without discrimination”, developed by PEA services for accounting of the population at in partnership with a national NGO and the a local level, judges and prefect institutions. National Council for Combating Discrim- These training sessions are conducted ination. This project was implemented in monthly at the local level by experts from the 2014 and one of its main components were PEA’s branches and county offi ces. The main the training sessions organized for members topics of these training sessions concern of different media outlets in which they were taught how to present materials related the way these institutions fulfi ll their duties to the electoral campaign and the stance of and responsibilities in the electoral fi eld in the competitors and how to moderate the accordance with the electoral law and PEA’s public debates with the candidates in order to instructions and decisions.

As we can see, the evolution of the inception of PEA, and it is especially higher permanent training increased since the in electoral years.

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Permanent training in the  it did not provide a suffi cient context of developing a specialized timeframe for the participants to better electoral experts’ body and the accumulate knowledge and skills, due to appearance of a new group of stake- the fact that one training session lasted an average of two hours; holders due to the introduction of  the trained groups were very large computerisation of polling stations (about 200 participants) which was not As I previously stated, we respond to conducive to the learning and evaluation the needs of various stakeholders in terms processes; of providing complex training programmes.  for each election the participants As you can see, while we offer periodic were a very heterogenic group in terms of and permanent training, each programme education and experience in participating in is shaped as such as to respond to various other electoral processes. aspects: legal provisions, number of par- A very clear example for the last ticipants, participants’ level of knowledge, mentioned issue is the distribution of the specialized categories of stakeholders, etc. electoral offi cials that were appointed for While up to now the majority of our the 2014 presidential elections in terms of training programmes were successful, we education and experience. ascertained that the main training programme, In terms of occupation/profession which was designed for the electoral offi cials the largest share of persons proposed to be had several issues that needed to be remedied. appointed presidents and vice-presidents These were as follows: of the polling stations bureaus was that of  it was organized using a lot of persons working in the legal fi eld, namely resources, especially fi nancial and material 14.39%, followed by those in the fi eld ones; education, 11.54%. Furthermore, as shown in  due to the electoral legislation that the fi rst fi gure, 27% of the persons appointed was in place up to 2015 the electoral offi cials presidents and vice-presidents of the polling could not form a specialized body, and they stations bureaus did not have a higher level could not be trained on a permanent basis; of education.

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Another aspect is that of their ex- electoral process previously, 15.98% were perience in other electoral processes. While presidents or vice-presidents of the polling about 79.56% participated in only one stations bureaus for the fi rst time.

Due to all these aspects, we advocated In regards to the creation of a since 2012 the creation and development of a specialized body of electoral offi cials trained specialized body of electoral offi cials trained on a permanent basis, starting from the on a permanent basis. This issue was included beginning of 2016 we are developing and in an Electoral Code that we proposed to the implementing a new training programme legislators. While this code was not adopted, for electoral offi cials that has the following in the context of the electoral reform started characteristics: by the legislator at the beginning of 2015,  a larger publicity and involvement we offered our experience and expertise in of the participants, due to the national public drafting the new electoral law. In this respect information campaign begun at the end of we advocated for several major issues, among 2015; which there was:  1. The creation of a specialized body a continuous character due to the of electoral offi cials trained on a permanent fact that the training sessions are conducted basis by a specialized centre for training periodically, not only during the electoral created under PEA, namely the Electoral period, but also in between elections; Experts’ Body;  it is more effi cient, due to the fact 2. The computerisation of polling that the groups of participants are smaller in stations. size (a maximum of 40 participants); Hence, with our expertise, these  it is adaptable to the knowledge important reforms were introduced in the level of the participants in terms of curricula new electoral law. and materials developed;

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 it is more complex in terms of In our experience of over 10 years training techniques used, due to the fact that in training various groups of stakeholders, besides the face to face instructor-led training we have found that without the existence there is an e-learning platform updated on a of permanent training programmes it is permanent basis; very diffi cult to train participants that are  it provides a better evaluation of the heterogeneous in terms of education, expe- participants, based on our own methodology. rience and profession. Through these steps, we aim to have Furthermore, in comparison to other models of training electoral offi cials, especially an improved training programme that will those specifi c to western democracies where offer the participants an increased level of the electoral offi cials are public servants knowledge and skills accumulated in the that usually studied in the law fi eld, our electoral fi eld. situation is very different, as I have previously In regards to the computerisation of exemplifi ed. polling station, it will be implemented for the In this situation we had to design and 2016 electoral process. advocate a new training model, one where a In this context, there is a new new specialized body of electoral offi cials will group of stakeholders in need of training, be trained on a permanent basis using modern namely the operators performing this task training techniques. Hence, the creation and in the polling station. At the moment, their development of the electoral experts’ body. training programme is similar to the training At the same time, due to the programme for electoral offi cials. computerisation of polling stations we have faced a new challenge in terms of training a Conclusions new group of stakeholders, which is already proving successful. As we can all see, training is a major All these changes are possible due component required to manage electoral to us advocating and proposing these changes processes effectively and the work of an EMB since 2012, and especially during the 2015 in this context is extensive and complex. In electoral reform. More so, this was accom- order to offer professional knowledge and plished by presenting the legislators with skills to various groups of stakeholders we a viable and effi cient model of selecting, have to fi nd new solutions to possible training training and evaluating a new generation of issues and implement them effi ciently. specialized electoral offi cials.

About the author: Dan VLAICU was a board member of the Permanent Electoral Authority, holding the vice-president position since august 2012 until April 5, 2016. He graduated the Faculty of Political Science, University of Bucharest, and he is also trained in the electoral campaigns fi eld by the National Democratic Institute of U.S.A., in fi nancing projects, public marketing and development of capacities. His public career started in 1998 as a collaborator for the Romanian Government within the Prime Minister Offi ce. During 2000 and 2004 he was analyst for the Romanian Association for Liberty and Democracy and also adviser of the Secretary General of National Liberal Party. Between 2004 and 2006 he held the Personal Counselor position of the Delegate Minister for Coordination of General Secretariat of Government and was elected as Local Counselor within the Local Council of District 5 of Bucharest. From 2006 to 2007 he was Personal Counselor of the Delegate Minister for Liaison with the Parliament and until 2009 he served as President of the National Authority for Consumer Protection.

20 TRENDS AND PATTERN OF VOTING AND ELECTIONS IN LIBERIA

PhD George Tee FORPOH (fellow) PhD Olugbemiga Samuel AFOLABI

Faculty of Social Sciences, Makerere Programme Director, University, Kampala, Uganda Centre for Nigeria Election Study Programme Specialist, Compliance, (CNES) Ile Ife M&E & Head Programme Support Unit, Department of Political Science, United Nations Obafemi Awolowo University Development Programme, Liberia Country Ile Ife Nigeria Offi ce, Mamba Point, Monrovia, Liberia

Cell: +256 755 847 101, Cell: +2348033710504 +231 886 539 629 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Abstract: Abstract:

In line with the 1986 revised constitu- În conformitate cu constituţia Republicii tion of the Republic of Liberia, like other Liberia, revizuită în 1986, ca şi în alte ţări countries all over the world, there is a time din întreaga lume, și aici există un termen set by each nation to validate or reaffi rm stabilit de fi ecare naţiune pentru validarea the mandate given by some offi cials in the sau ratifi carea mandatului dat de unii ofi ciali administration of the governance processes pentru adminis trarea proceselor de guvernare of the state. Strict from the declaration a statului. Doar de la declararea independenţei of independence in 1847, Liberia’s elec- din 1847, tendinţa şi tiparul procesului electoral tioneering trends and pattern have been din Liberia au fost determinate de clientelism occasioned by the use of patronage and cash şi de acte de violenţă sponsorizate de America violence sponsored by the imperialist America imperialistă pentru a amăgi electoratul defa- in order to delude underprivileged electorates vorizat să îşi acorde voturile în favoarea celor in casting their ballots in favor of the choices preferaţi de imperialişti şi în detrimentul made by the imperialists and to the detriment societăţii. Niciodată nu s-a realizat un studiu of the society. There has never been a research al tendinţei şi tiparului procesului electoral into the area of the trend and pattern of pentru a analiza cultura politică a electoratului

21 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 electioneering to study the political culture of liberian. Oricum, singura dovadă care ne indică the electorates in Liberia. However, the lone această direcţie, care nu este una obişnuită evidence pointing in that direction, which is pentru procesele electorale din lume, dar este not common in elections processes across remarcabilă pentru că susţine importanţa the globe but noticeable in terms to underpin procesului electoral în Liberia, este aceea că the relevance of electioneering in Liberia, partidele politice şi candidaţii imperialiştilor is that the candidates and political parties nu pierd niciodată, mai ales când deţinătorul supported by the imperialists never lose, more funcţiei este un favorit al imperialiştilor la so, when the incumbent is a favorite of the alegerile respective. Cu toate acestea, alegerile imperialists in the election. Notwithstanding, senatoriale din 2014 au confi gurat o realitate the Senatorial bi-elections of 2014 draw ireversibilă pentru că s-a înregistrat o schim- on an irreversible reality when it witnessed bare a paradigmei procesului electoral din a shift in the paradigm in the electoral pro- Liberia. Fiul doamnei Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, cess of Liberia. The son of Madam Ellen al nouălea cel mai bogat preşedinte din Africa, Johnson-Sirleaf – the ninth richest President candidat independent, a pierdut în faţa unui in Africa –, Robert Sirleaf, an independent candidat al opoziţiei, o legendă a fotbalului, candidate, lost to an opposition candidate, George Weah, în ceea ce se poate considera soccer legend ambassador George Weah, cea mai ruşinoasă înfrângere înregistrată în in what is recorded as the most disgraceful istoria competiţiei senatoriale din ţară (Front defeat ever in the senatorial race in the Page Africa, 2014). Competiţia electorală şi country (Front Page Africa, 2014). The alegerile au fost evaluate şi considerate, în electoral race and the elections were rated and general, ca libere, cinstite şi credibile de către generally considered free, fair and credible comunitatea internaţională, inclusiv de către by the international community, including the imperialişti. Astfel se ajunge la o enigmă de imperialists. This leaves a leading puzzle as to primă importanţă, şi anume care au fost factorii what were the determining factors that led the determinanţi care au orientat astfel electoratul electorate and voting trend in 2014 senatorial şi tendinţa de votare la alegerile senatoriale din bi-elections to the manner in which they did? 2014? Folosind informaţii de bază din interviuri Using primary data from interviews and şi recenzii ale altor studii despre alegerile din reviews of other works on Liberia’s elections, Liberia, această lucrare clarifi că situaţia care this paper disentangles the dynamics that a creat tendinţa sau tiparul votării la alegerile predisposed the trend and pattern of voters senatoriale din 2014 şi poate fi considerată ca in 2014 senatorial bi-elections which can un cadru pentru construirea unei imagini reale be used as a framework to construct an a alegătorilor din Liberia şi pentru a prevedea additional concrete view of Liberia voters alegerile viitoare. and predict future elections. Cuvinte-cheie: Liberia, competiţie Keywords: Liberia, electoral race, electorală, imperialişti, alegeri pentru Senat, imperialists, Senatorial bi-elections, political ten dinţa politică trend

Introduction tronage among other factors. Electioneering is often referred to as power to determine Electioneering enables voters to the fate of the constants amidst options for a decide on their choices based on a number particular post, be it in the public or private of factors which may include: desirability domain. Holding constant all the mentioned of the individual or a party’s manifestoes, set of alternative choices before the voters, variables spelled out constant, electioneering religious and cultural affi liations, ethnicity is certainly not tied to sets of programmes or a combination of other factors including or to the personality of the contestants, let personality of a contestant and sometimes pa- alone their parties of affi liations. The other

22 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 factors of suitability and appropriateness of the answer to this question, there are certainly the candidate or the party could play a crucial other puzzles agitating the minds of politicians, role in determining which of the choices set journalists, scholars, and even election practi- out before the voters is the most benefi cial tioners: why did the President son lost in for the good of the society. the election in the capital and some of the Time and again, election transcends President’s supported candidates won in other just a period of canvasing or a movement when counties across the country? Why did ruling votes are casted, it is much more than the known Unity Party Senate President lost in his county ritual for a stated period, it rather lives with the or why is opposition party – Liberty Party – electorate weeks, months or even years after popular in a particular zone and not in others? the given election cycle (Schumpeter, 1976). Or why is the difference in numbers of votes so Election therefore could simply be classifi ed “as small, thus giving the Council for Democratic a pledge of allegiance and or a disaffection to Change Party an edge over the ruling Unity a particular choice, a determination to change, Party? What are the determining factors re- signify an approval, infl uence a candidate or spon sible for this trend? The unpredictability political party” (Afolabi, 2015). Hence, it goes of the questions above explains the behaviour without mention that for an election process of the voters and the voting process in Liberia. to be deemed credible, a confi guration of the In the words of Mozaffar (2002) and Schedler process must be recorded in a manner that (2002), this is sometimes referred to as the satisfi es that election as credible. In the case of “certainty of uncertainties” in elections. Be Liberia, palpable pattern of electoral engage- ment became eminent with the reform of the what it may, electioneering itself, for one to electoral laws and the adoption of policies make a defi nite and overwhelming statement, that ensure transparency and accountability of be exact and an accurate refl ection of society the national election commission. There were is contingent on a number of factors bordering discrepancies observed and recorded in the on acceptance of the election exercise, voters’ 2005 special presidential election, that ushered turn-out and citizens’ appreciation of the poli t- in the post confl ict democratic government ical and electoral processes. Therefore, an elec- and other upsets were recorded in 2011 tor al process should be guided by empirical general elections, respectively. In the history analysis of participation or, more appropriately, of Liberia, a son of the incumbent President, political participation of which trend of the failed in an election. Is this a reality, a fl uke Liberian electorate over time has declined or an aberration? While one tries to grasp with (Daily Observer, 2014).

Figure 1

Source: National Election Commission Liberia (NEC)

23 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

Conceptual Clarifi cation of Furthermore, political trend can take Political Trend and Pattern different forms thus the extents to which people participate in the political system Political Participation differ among individuals, countries and Regardless of the system of govern- regions. The six types of political trend ment, the trend of political participation is identifi ed by Falade (2010) are: Parochial one among few political phenomena which participants – these people participate in occurs in all political societies, irrespective politics occasionally. They vote or get of the system of government. The degree involved in any other political activity only or pace with which it occurs is not uniform when it affects their personal interest. Voting in different societies. This does not mean specialists – these are the people that get that it occurs at similar pace or degree. As eagerly engaged only in voting. Besides propagated by the democratic theorists, from voting, they are not concerned about other Rousseau onwards, many scholars have political activities. Complete activists – they urged or assumed that a proper system of are highly involved in all political activities. government must provide opportunities for They actively participate in voting, political political involvement by the individuals in the campaign, community activities and make society. In which case, the minimum condi- contact with public offi cials. For instance, tion that a governmental system must satisfy three million people in Rome protested to qualify as democratic is the provision of an against the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The opportunity for the people to vote in periodic demonstration holds the record as the largest competitive elections (Birch, 2000). On the ever anti-war rally. The communalists – they other hand, further opportunities and forms get engaged in voting regularly, they also get of political participation are highly desirable involved in community affairs but they are and can be achieved in a more democratized not involved in political campaign activities. political environment. The campaigners – they are actively involved Thus, the involvement of the in political campaign but inactive in other citizens in the political system or the public community affairs. The inactives – these are involvement in decision making is therefore the people that take no part in any political put in simple terms as: “Political trend” activity. (Riley et al. 2010). A set of rights and duties Again, in most authoritarian regimes, that involve formally organized civic and elections rarely offer the opportunity to political activities, as pointed out, qualifi es change the existing regime. In societies like as political engagement. It includes voting this, acts of voter abstention can provide or joining a political party (Munroe, 2002). meaningful signals of discontent and voter’s The degree to which citizens exercise their preference (Roeder, 1989). Emphasis on right to engage in political activities is citizens’ participation through votes or referred to as political trend. This is in terms voters turnout might not be suffi cient when of the political entities which emphasize measuring political trend as studies have the people, and the active engagement by majorly shown. That relatively well-educated citizens is vital for a healthy democracy and individuals conscious decision to ignore sustainable development (Falade, 2014). mandatory voting laws or destroy ballots in The existence of institutional engagements a country where there was no real choice which permits society to take active part between candidates has been revealed from in the decision making process is what studies on voting in the Soviet Union, for perceptibly differentiates a democracy from example, and suggests that non-voting was other systems of government (Schumpeter, seen as an act of protest (Karklins, 1986). 1976). Democracy cannot be inclusive, Blank and spoiled ballots were often and sustainable development is impossible interpreted as a form of protest against the without active engagement by responsible authoritarian government in Brazil under citizens (Bauer, 2012). military rule, which made compulsory voting

24 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 to lead to high turnout (Power and Roberts, It is clearly seen that short-term and 1995 as cited in Blaydes, 2006). long-term patterns are shaped and infl uenced. The German experience in 2009 is However, not much conclusion can be drawn worthy of note, 134,015 Germans signed an from what infl uences are to a particular e-petition to protest against the Act to Impede election, Heywood (2007) asserted. These Access to Communication Networks, which short-term infl uences include but are not aimed to block access to websites offering limited to: the state of the economy which certain types of content, making it German’s refl ects the link between a government’s most successful e-petition till date (Bauer, popularity and economic variables such as 2012). Political trend and participation can be unemployment, infl ation and disposable strengthened by promoting decentralization income, public standing of party leaders and and creating inclusive structures in spite personality. Ideological concerns and the of the peculiarities in different societies. mass media are, on the other hand, major The latest means citizens have resorted to long-term infl uences. This knowledge of express their views continually and freely is voting as well as academic and scientifi c study through the ‘new media’ which in itself have of the voting pattern (psephology) has been helped to reduce scenarios of unwarranted on the rise (Bartels, 2008, Heywood, 2007). victimization of government antagonists. The sociological model, often identifi ed as School of Columbia, with the main reference Electioneering Pattern to publication of books like: The People’s Choice (Lazarsfeld, Berelson & Gaudet, The engagement of the electorates in 1944), Voting (Berelson, Lazarsfeld & electioneering pattern is most often refl ected McPhee, 1954) and Personal Infl uence (Katz in casting of votes. From the stance of the & Lazarsfeld, 1955). The central hypothesis western concept or developed democracies of Lazarsfeld et al. is the voting pattern that because this is usually a less costly and more is marked by the scientifi c study categorized conventional form of political pattern. This into three major research schools. voting trend is often theoretically referred to The pattern that refl ects the economic as scientifi c diagnostics of the electioneering, and social position of the group to which which considers other components as electorates belong is the sociological prescient, constituencies, electorate districts model that linked voting pattern to group within an election terrain. This provides membership, suggesting that electorates tend the sociological explanation of the voters to adopt a voting trend that is infl uenced by and choices that infl uence their pattern and their likes. The studies conducted by the trend, as well as the voting processes. In the Survey Research Centre at the University of argument of Onah (1997), voting is perhaps Michigan during the 1948 U.S. presidential the simplest, cheapest and the most obvious elections are the origin of the second model of all these various forms of participation of Psychological model of voting pattern. The in the political process in a country. The American Voter, a book written by Campbell, invariably focus on the determinants of why Converse Miller and Stokes (1960), includes people vote as they do and how they arrive the combined reports from the 1948, 1952 at the decisions that drive their trend they and 1956 presidential elections in USA. The make is explained in the analysis of voting stable and lasting relationship with a political patterns. Making choices on candidates or party that does not necessarily translate parties greatly varies, as well as what inspires into a concrete link, namely registration voters to turn out for voting and factors they or consistently voting for this party, is the consider. As Shi (1999) opined, the behaviour central concept of this model of partisanship, of voters in Chinese local elections tends to which is designed as a psychological affi nity. be individualistic and is said to be informed As asserted by Hyman & Singer (1968), the by the plea to chastise offi cials of corrupt manifestation of partisanship in voting is not practices. a product of calculation infl uenced by factors

25 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 such as policies, personalities, campaigning Notwithstanding, the senatorial bi- and media coverage. In this view, voting elections of 2014 draw on an irreversible is seen as a rational act, in the sense that reality when it witnessed a shift in the individual electors are believed to decide paradigm in the electoral process of Liberia. their party preference on the basis of personal The son of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf – self-interest (Kimeyin & Romero, 2008). the ninth richest President in Africa –, The third model, which is the rational choice Robert Sirleaf, an independent candidate, model, tries to be distinct from previous lost to an opposition candidate, soccer theories/models as it gives an economic legend ambassador George Weah, in what explanation to voting behaviour (Antunes, is recorded as the most disgraceful defeat 2008). ever in the senatorial race in the country Apart from the other two theories (The Inquirer News Paper, 2015). The discussed, this is seen to be the factor electoral race and the elections were rated that determines voters’ preferences. It is and generally adjured free, fair and credible considered that also determines the depth, by the international community, including consolidation and development of democ- the imperialists. This leaves a leading puzzle racy in the Liberian society. This has as to what were the determining factors that been the engagement of the imperialists. decided the electorates and voting trend in In the Liberian society, voting is explained 2014 senatorial bi-elections? Using primary predominantly by factors such as clientelism, data from interviews and reviews of other patronage, cash violence, personality, eth- literature on Liberia’s 2014 senatorial nicity and personal ties (Hyden and Leys, bi-elections, the paper disentangles the dy- 1972 & Mozzafar et al., 2003). However, namics that predisposed the trend and pattern in other parts of the world, voting pattern of voters in 2014 senatorial bi-elections can be explained by socio-structural, socio- which could be used to construct an additional psychological or rational choice models, at concrete view of Liberian voters and future least for industrialized societies (Erdmann, election poll forecast. 2007). Electioneering in Liberia has been often characterized by patronage, cash Statement of Problem violence and fraud ridden (Afolabi, 2015; From the declaration of independence Saye, 2002). From the inception of the state, in 1847, the noticeable case of Liberia especially from independence, there has not electioneering trend and pattern has been been any empirical research into the political occasioned by the use of patronage and cash trend and voting pattern of Liberian elector- violence, which are mostly sponsored by im- ates to establish the actual facts surrounding perialist America to delude underprivileged the electioneering. However, the only pattern electorate in casting their ballots in favor of noticeable, which is not refl ective of the the choices made by the Imperialists and to behavioral pattern of voters across the globe, the detriment of the society. There has never is that the ruling party of Liberia never loses, been a research into the trend and pattern of especially when the incumbent is contesting electioneering to study the political culture the election. What has dominated discourses of the Liberian voters. However, the lone and scholarly works over the years was that evidence pointing to that direction, which inferences and perceived observations were is not common place in elections processes often presented as empirical facts. Successive in Africa, but is noticeable in terms of its elections, especially voting from 1985 to relevance to electioneering in Liberia, is that 2005, have not also provided a solid platform the imperialists candidates or political parties to investigate and assess the voting pattern never lose, more so, when the incumbent and political trend of the Liberian voters due president is an America’s favorite in the to the fact that elections in 1997 were not ensuring election. free, fair and credible and therefore, not a

26 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 refl ection of the wishes and votes of voters Finding answers to these questions is the task (Afolabi, 2011). the research paper intends to unravel. But the 2014 senatorial bi-elections witnessed lot of hitherto ‘unthinkable’ Methodology happenings in the electoral process which The study employed both secondary has made some people to adjure the 2014 and primary data. Data were collected through elections as being a refl ection of the true participatory observation and interview wishes of the Liberian people with contrary methods. The researcher participated in the opinions expressed in other quarters (Punch, last election as a voter. Key questions were 2015). In any case, the son of the incumbent posed to 1000 registered voters in the four (4) President lost, while opposition candidates geo-political zones that participated and won electoral contests and the elections were voted in the 2014 senatorial bi-elections to generally adjured free, fair and credible (The determine what infl uenced their participation Front Page Africa, 2015; The Inquirer, 2015). pattern and their voting trend preferences. Within the purview of the 2014 credible 250 respondents from each zone were elections, the senatorial bi-elections took selected to have a balanced view across place among candidates fi elded by registered Liberia. While attention has focused on the political parties and independent candidates. senatorial bi-elections where the incumbent The outcome of the elections showed that President son lost, it should also be noted that the son of the President of the ruling Unity some incumbents in parties like Liberty Party Party (UP) lost to the opposition Congress and National Patriotic Party lost their seats as for Democratic Change (CDC), thereby well, making it analytically interesting. Key reducing his numerical strength in order to respondents and stakeholders in the electoral become a successor of his mother in the 2017 process including offi cials of CSOs, party general and presidential elections. offi cials, NEC staff, security personnel and The ruling party recorded some gains voters were interviewed to add information as well. But given the non-representation to the database. Additional data were sourced nature of politics and elections in Liberia from other literature reviewed on the subject. as noted above, the question is: what were The data collected was statistically analyzed. the intervening variables that determined participation and voting in the 2014 elections? Background to the 2014 This is more so, given that participation, Elections in our view, is more encompassing and The 2014 senatorial bi-elections explanatory than voters turn out. With this came as a result of a peace deal that was question in mind, it is better to quickly state broken in 2003 which witnessed the end that more problematic was how to determine of the almost two decades of civil confl ict the voting behaviour pattern of Liberian between belligerent forces of the National voters and the associated factors responsible Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), led by for that behaviour. This further begets more Charles Gankay Taylor, and the Indepen- questions: what determined and infl uenced dent National Patriotic Front (INPFL), of participation, voting behaviour and voters’ Prince Y. Johnson, former Army General decision during the 2014 senatorial bi- and now senator, Liberians United for elections, given it outcome? Are the internal Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), of factors peculiar to the voters (this may vary the Seku Demateh Conneh and the remnant from voter to voter or in a similar manner) or of the deformed Arm Forces of Liberia (AFL) external factors that could vary from economic of former President Samuel Kanyon Doe. The (vote buying/selling) to institutional (NEC), deal subsequently ushered in the democratic systemic (electoral rules/system), and social process of 2005 occasioned by the special structure (class/ethnicity)? Is a pattern elections which elected Africa’s fi rst female emerging or is just a narrative in transition? President, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and

27 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 the subsequent 2011 general and presidential off at the last minute to give way for the elections on a propitious symmetry. The party’s support for the president’s son, even 2005 special elections process amended the though he was an independent candidate. election laws of Liberia with the alteration of Thus, the issue of a particular choice made the terms of the senators to six and nine years by the ruling party became a major source respectively. The amendment allotted the of disagreement and tension between the senator of the junior category, the senator who protagonists and antagonists within the wins with the less votes to a six years term ruling party. Another dimension to the issue while that of the senior category, the senator was that the antagonists feared that the with the highest votes to a nine years term. president was trying to groom her son for This provision was made for maintaining the presidential election in 2017. Especially, institutional membrane for continuity in the were he to have won the Monsterrado Senate. senatorial race, all arrays would have pointed Given the historicity of Ebola virus to the fact that he will succeed his mother at disease, at the time of the scheduled 2014 the end of her second term. It should be noted senatorial bi-elections, there were calls from that the protagonist were interested more in some elements of the ruling Unity Party for the succession of the president and not in the postponement of the election. On the other the senatorial bi-elections if the president’s hand, the opposition cited constitutional crisis son was to position himself as a political that may arise, occasioned by the inability conqueror and thus, better fi t to replace his of the government to hold the election as mother at the end of her second six years term scheduled because of the epidemic. The for maximum benefi t from a particular order crisis would border on legitimacy of the that seems to favour the president and allow government after the expiration of its the ‘bandwagon’ effect that is likely to follow constitutional mandate. In the midst of all such order of elections and succession. these, suspicion and distrust were common. If the president’s son had won the Also, this generated lots of arguments and senatorial election, whichever party he would counter arguments, most especially between have joined in the 2017 forthcoming presi- the opposition political parties and the ruling dential elections, would likely infl uence the party on the one hand and that of NEC and choice of voters in the subsequent elections, the rest of the parties on the other hand. The provided he is elected as President. However, controversy revolves around what would in spite of the dilemma of elections, what the happen in the event that the elections were not held on schedule? But that was just one of 2014 elections produced did not conform to the problems that dogged the 2014 senatorial the expected ‘normal pattern’ of the ruling elections at the initial stage. Other problems party winning most, if not all the seats. The surfaced, among which were voters’ apathy, president’s son lost to the opposition Congress issue of voters fatigue occasioned by what for Democratic Change (CDC). is referred to as failure on the part of the Data Presentation and Analysis government to deliver on its promises, citing water supply, electrifi cation, jobs and the list The respondents were chosen goes on. based on their participation in the electoral There were also internal parties’ processes, expertise of the issues of votes and issues on the selection of candidates. The voting pattern and interest in the electoral ruling party did not fi eld candidates in Nimba procedures. All the respondents interviewed to support the president’s choice for the were literate and able to articulate their senatorial candidate in that part of the country. positions on what motivated them to have A similar thing was done in Monsterrado, participated and voted as well as on what to enable the ruling party to support the infl uenced and determined their choice viz president’s son as an independent candidate. internal issues versus external issues. The This witnessed the party’s candidate backing basic simple question was: ‘what infl uenced

28 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 and determined your vote and participation The fi gure below gives details of what and the factors responsible for these’. Others the respondents believed infl uenced and questions complement the basic question. determined their participation and vote.

Source: Field work, 2015

Most respondents including the ones not mentioned frequently as an important surveyed through V-Dem agreed that the factor (15.3%). However, of signifi cance desire for new system or change was the is the role of vote buying, of personality, most important factor which made them vote. of personal/group gain factors as drivers of For most of the respondents, the need for participation and vote determinant. On this change was not limited to the Senate but they point, most respondents interviewed agreed wanted to ensure that ruling Unity Party lost that the factors identifi ed above worked any competition for public offi ce in Liberia. for and against the major political parties This would explain why there were upsets and candidates. It is also instructive that all across the country both at national, regional respondents agreed that all, especially the and county levels. It also shows that the President’s son, engaged in vote buying, desire for change affected all parties as seen enticement of voters, encourage/promise in Grand Bassa County where the Senate of personal/group gain and personality Pro-Temp lost to National Patriotic Party promotion at the expense of policy issues that (NPP) of former Liberia President Charles should have dominated political discourse Gankay Taylor, now serving a sentence for and serve as mobilization tool (vote buying war crime charges. The same scenario was 56.8%; personal/group gain 35%). This has replicated in virtually all areas of the country. served to reinforce the data collected by It is however surprising that ethnicity and V-Dem survey on participation, and voting religion played a less important role, given behaviour of Liberian (V-dem Data, 2014; the tendency to see these variables as a key Ham and Lindberg, 2014). However, it is determinant in Liberian politics and electoral signifi cant that most of the respondents process (31% and 22.2%, respectively). expressed high level of confi dence in the Voting as a habit and a social factor was national election commission (NEC) as a noted but was not signifi cant because it was factor in participation, but not as a factor

29 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 in voting behaviour. According to some made more pungent by comments of some respondents interviewed: of the respondents: My confi dence in NEC to do the right I vote people who can deliver and are thing and let my vote count is why I am out morally okay for me. Not somebody who will to vote. Even though not perfect, innovations get at the capitol to buy big cars and engage including the card readers has inspired in me in prostitution (Female, 48). that my vote will count (Male, 46). Which party? They are all the same Unlike before, the (NEC) now makes (parties/politicians), however, the ruling me confi dent to cast my vote for whoever I party is seemingly more in this respect. want and I know that more than 70% that the But at least I can look at his/her character vote would count with the way we now vote (candidates) and decide which one of them I (Female, 56). will vote for (Male, 26). On what determines the choice of a But this is not to suggest that issues candidate/party, the overwhelming answer or policy positions do not matter as the fi gure was personality. Virtually all respondents below shows (23.3%). But as in most studies, (92.7% of those interviewed) maintained that their choice of candidates was based personality or trait issues are more important on the candidate’s personality as opposed to voters (Miller, Wattenberg and Malanchuk, to policy or positional issues (Berelson et 1986; Glass, 1985). This is in conformity al., 1954; Kleppner et al., 1982; Kedar, with Cowen and Laakso as well as other 2005; Downs, 1957). Therefore, it is safe scholars who have tried to explain what to argue that most Liberian voters mainly informs voters’ choice and voting behaviour cast their ballots (vote) on the basis of and distinguish between rational voters’ emotions, styles and traits effects (internal choice and emotional voter’s choice models characteristics) as opposed to issue effects, (Cowen and Laakso, 1997; 2002; Grose and policy appeals and rational choice. This is Globetti, 2007). See fi gure 3 below.

Source: Field work, 2015

Therefore, the role of personality voters predilection towards personality or or non-policy issues should be seen as non-policy issues in determining participation important in determining and predicting and who to vote in elections is benefi cial voters behaviour in Liberia as well as when or not is open to debate. What is clear is engaging poll projection. Whether Liberian that a pattern of voting is emerging given

30 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 the obvious confi dence of the electorate us, voters’ choice and sophistication is an in the electoral and voting process which emerging culture and reality could be turned manifested eloquently in the 2014 senatorial around if the current reforms and innovation elections. is stalled or reversed. This makes us to sound a word of caution here and this is why we Conclusion see the current voting behaviour trend and This paper has examined the issue pattern as a narrative in transition for now. of participation, voting trend and pattern of We think these fi ndings put us in the position voting in Liberia’s 2014 senatorial bi-elec- to indicate a few things that are relevant for tions. Critical appraisals of what vote is and policy and research. what factors determine and infl uence voters’ Therefore, further research is expected choice and vote were examined. Therefore, to critically investigate the impact of the class system and patronage of the imperialists in this paper is one of the few academic efforts engaging fraudulent processes, votes buying. made so far trying to disentangle varying Yet, preliminary evidence from our study and reasons why people participate in the commendations from political stakeholders political and electoral process with focus show that the use of the external infl uence on 2014 senatorial bi-elections in Liberia. didn’t undermine the credibility of the The research fi ndings support the existing 2014 senatorial bi-elections. The argument viewpoints that most voters are more likely therefore is: the observed downward slope swayed by personality/non-policy issues in voters’ turnout, majorly during the 2014 in making their choice in the elections. Of elections which is 44% compared to 54% in course, this is based on the amount of non- 2011 (see fi gure 1) could be a result of voters policy issue information and perceived fatigue occasioned by the non-achievement image(s) of the candidates on which basis the of previous promises made before other voters decide if, when and how to vote. The elections. This means that other elections effects of this line of behaviour trend of the (i.e. 2005 and 2011) that had higher voters voters in the 2014 senatorial bi-elections is turnout might have been the result of high what caused so much upsets across the length level of unchecked manipulations during elec- and breadth of Liberia. Even the incidence tion, which could be in form of unaccredited of vote buying and widespread inducement voting, multiple voting, etc. reported didn’t signifi cantly affect voters’ In conclusion, we cannot help but choice, as shown in our data. Also, the issues notice that in many parts of Liberia, attitude of religion and ethnicity did not play an is changing and more people are positive important role, contrary to assumed positions about elections and electoral process. We and some literature. Therefore, it is safe make haste to claim that in the next general to say that the democratization process is elections, voters’ choice will prevail and this progressing and that the Liberian voters are will help in fostering credible elections in getting increasingly sophisticated. But for Liberia.

About the authors: D r. Olugbemiga Samuel AFOLABI holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in Political Science and teaches same at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria where he is an assistant professor. He is a visiting professor and researcher at Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He was formerly a doctoral trainee at the Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID), Montreal, Canada, and a fellow of the Governance in Africa Initiative sponsored by Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Dr Afolabi is well-published and the regional manager for East and Central Africa of Varieties of Democracy Project based in Gothenburg,

31 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

Sweden, and Notre Dame, USA. He is also the programme director and principal investigator, Centre for Nigeria Election Study (CNES), Nigeria. Dr. Afolabi also serves as consultant for local and international agencies. He is APSA Africa fellow and senior research fellow within the Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique (IFRA), Nigeria.

George Tee FORPOH, PhD (fellow) is a researcher/evaluator, facilitator and an applied political economy development expert with strong data analysis and is a practicing knowledge management guru, with work experience in democracy/rights/governance, agriculture, education and health. Some of his specialized works include: designing and implementing program/project interventions, as well as developing innovative monitoring and evaluation systems to track real time performance. A system which incorporates quantitative and qualitative approaches and brings in geospatial analyses, where appropriate. He works with small and large data sets and analytically synthesizes different types of data in a visual manner in order to better interpret underlying reasons that explain the political and socio-economic behaviour of the society, in addition, synthesizing complex information and processes into coherent training programs that enable participants to quickly acquire skills to carry out actions in their communities. He is also skilled at combining political and economic phenomena with cultural approaches within the subregional, has a tracked record of drawing inferences on global perspective. In order to ensure articulation between local knowledge systems and those of the larger national and international spheres in today’s complex development arenas, endeavors to follow small details which are translated in bigger pictures. He has worked extensively in participatory research approaches, bringing together actors ranging from senior government agents, civil society actors to local participants at the community level, which engenders inclusion, voice, participation of the minority, and persons with disabilities.

References:  Afolabi, O. S. (2015), Interrogating the Credibility of Elections in Africa: What Implications for the Quest for Democracy, Good Governance and Peace?, Paper presented at CIMPAD 10th Conference on Democracy, Administration and Development in Africa, Zambia, 22 – 26 June  Afolabi, O. S. (2011), Theoretical and Practical Explorations of the Conduct of Elections in Nigeria, Ife Social Sciences Review, Vol. 24, No. 1  Antunes, R. (2008), Theoretical Models of Voting Behaviour, in Party identifi cation and voting behaviour: structural factors, attitudes and changes in voting. A doctoral thesis presented to the University of Coimbra, Portugal  Bartels, L. (2008), The Study of Electoral Behaviour, The Oxford Handbook of American Elections and Political Behavior, Oxford  Bauer, F. (2012), Political Participation, The GIZ Magazine Azente, Issue 1  Birch, A. (2001), The Concepts and Theories of Democracy, Routledge, London  Blyades, L. (2006), Who Votes in Authoritarian Elections and Why? Determinants of Voter Turnout in Contemporary Egypt, Prepared for delivery at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, August 31 – September 3, 2006, Philadelphia PA  Cowen, M. and Laakso (1997), An Overview of Election Studies in Africa, Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 35, No. 4, p. 717 – 744  Cowen, M. and Laakso (2002), Multi-Party Elections in Africa, Palgrave, New York  Downs, A. (1957), An Economic Theory of Democracy, New York: Harper and Row

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 Erdmann, G. (2007), The Cleavage Model, Ethnicity and Voter Alignment in Africa: Conceptual and Methodological Problems Revisited, GIGA Working Papers, Working Paper No. 63  Falade, D. A. and Orungbemi, O. (2010), Democratic Governance and Political Education in Africa, Paper Presentation at the 3rd International Conference on Forgotten Africa and African Renaissance at the Treasureland Conference Centre, Kumasi, Ghana  Falade, D. (2014), Political Participation in Nigerian Democracy: A Study of Some Selected Local Government Areas in Ondo State, Nigeria, Global Journal Inc, USA, Volume 14, Issue 8  Glass, D. P. (1985), Evaluating Presidential Candidates: Who focuses on their Personal Attributes?, Public Opinion Quarterly, 49:517-34  Grose, C. R. and Globetti, S. (2007), Valence Voters: Images, Issues, and Citizen Vote Choice in U.S. Senate Elections, Paper presented at the 2007 meeting of Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 12 – 15  Ham, V. C. and Lindberg, S. (2015), Vote Buying is a Good Sign: Alternative Tactics of Fraud in Africa, 1986 – 2012, V-Dem Working Paper Series, 2015:3  Heywood, A. (2007), Politics, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, USA  Hyden, G. and Leys, C. (1972), Elections and Politics in Single-Party Systems: The Case of Kenya and Tanzania, British Journal of Political Science, No. 4, Vol. 2, p. 389 – 420  Hyman, H. H. and Singer, E. (1968), Readings in Reference Groups Theory and Research, New York: Free Press  Ibeanu, O. (2007), Introduction: Elections and the Paroxysmal Future of Democracy in Nigeria in Jega, A. and Ibeanu, O. (ed.), Elections and the Future of Democracy in Nigeria, NPSA Publication  Ikpe, U. B. (2000), Political Behaviour and Electoral Politics in Nigeria: A Political Economy Interpretation, Golden Educational Publishers, Uyo Nigeria  INEC and FES (2011), Voters Apathy and the 2011 General Elections: A Research Report, Lagos and Abuja  Karklins, R. (1986), Soviet Elections Revisited: Voter Abstention in Non-competitive Voting, American Political Science Review, Vol. 80  Kimenyi, M. and Romero, R. (2008), Identity, Grievances, and Economic Determinants of Voting in the 2007 Kenyan Elections, Economics Working Papers, Paper 200838  Miller, A. H., Wattenberg, M. P. and Malanchuk, O. (1986), Schematic Assessments of Presidential Candidates, American Political Science Review 80, 521-40  Mozaffar, S. (2002), Patterns of Electoral Governance in Emerging Democracies, International Political Science Review, Vol. 23, No. 1, p. 85 – 101  Mozaffar, S., Scaritt, J. and Galaich, G. (2003), Electoral Institutions. Ethnopolitical Cleavages and Party Systems in Africa’s Emerging Democracies, American Political Science Review, No. 3, Vol. 97, p. 379 – 390  Munroe, T. (2002), An introduction to politics. Lectures for first-year students, Canoe: Kingston  Onah, F. (1997), Socio-Economic Determinants of Voters Behaviour in the United States: A Lesson on Electoral Participation for Nigeria, in Ogunba, O. (ed.), Governance and the Electoral Process: Nigeria and the USA, Lagos: UNILAG Press  Riley, C. E., Griffin, C. and Morey, Y. (2010), The case for ‘everyday politics’: Evaluating neo-tribal theory as a way to understand alternative forms of political participation, using electronic dance music culture as an example, Sociology, 44(2), 345 – 363  Roeder, P. (1989), Electoral Avoidance in the Soviet Union, Soviet Studies, Vol. 41, No. 3  Schumpeter, J. A. (1976), Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, Routledge London and New York

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 Schedler, A. (2002), The Nested Game of Democratization by Elections, International Political Science Review, Vol. 23, No. 1  Shi, Tianjian (1999), Voting and Nonvoting in China: Voting Behaviour in Plebiscitary and Limited Choice Elections, Journal of Politics, Vol. 61, No. 4  The Punch Newspaper, Monday March 30th 2015  The Vanguard, Tuesday March 31st, 2015  V-Dem Survey Data 2015, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden  Yakubu, Y. A. (2012), Democracy and Political Apathy in Nigeria, European Scientifi c Journal, Vol. 8, No. 20

34 INNOVATION PROCESSES UNDERTAKEN BY THE PERMANENT ELECTORAL AUTHORITY OF ROMANIA

Octavian Mircea CHESARU, PhD Parliamentary Expert – Bucureşti-Ilfov Branch

Abstract: Abstract:

In order to effi ciently answer the desire Pentru a răspunde efi cient dorinţei to constantly improve the electoral process, the de a îmbunătăţi constant procesul electoral, Permanent Electoral Authority has undergone Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă a trecut a series of administrative and normative printr-o serie de procese de schimbare processes of change in accordance to the new administrative şi normative în concordanţă public management tendecies of agentifi cation, cu tendinţele noului mangement public simplifi cation, dematerialisation, depoliti ci- de diseminare a autorităţii, simplifi care, sa tion, profes siona lisation, or transparency dematerializare, depolitizare, profesionalizare building. The article underlines the most sau edifi care a transparenţei. Articolul pune important reforms undertaken by the institution accentul pe cele mai importante reforme prin in accordance to the fulfi llment of these new care a trecut instituţia în spiritul realizării public sector patterns. acestor noi modele ale sectorului public.

Keywords: change processes, new Cuvinte-cheie: procese de schimbare, public management, innovation noul management public, inovaţie

35 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

Introduction Thus, a new administrative culture is confi gured, focusing on adjusting public The political, economical, social and organisations to turn from politics to technological challenges constantly provoke management, from pyramidal administra- public sector organisations to resort to reform and innovation processes aimed at optimising tive systems to “chester” administrative their activity for an effi cient answer to the systems, from a planned and hierarchical citizens’ needs. These evolutive processes decisional process to a dichotomy between are identifi ed by scholars in the new public core activities and the operational services management spectrum of infl uence. established, from an administration focused Over the past years, the Permanent on the process to an administration focused on Electoral Authority (PEA), the independent results, from a collective provision of public administrative institution with overall and social services to the fl exible deliverance responsibility in the electoral fi eld in Romania of particular services, from spending public has undergone a series of reformative fi nances to budget cuts, from owning to 3 innovation processes aimed at improving managing property. electoral processes. Therefore, a clear demarcation from the ultrabureaucratic model theorised Modern Change Tendencies of by Weber is noticeable. The idea of a the Public Sector total separation between the new public The research literature underlines a management theory and the weberian system series of evolutive tendencies of the public is upheld by Percebois (2007) who underlines sector that emerged as a consequence of the the idea that every difference between the new public management implementation. The doctrines arises from a different set of values, new public management theory counteracts both facing contradictory opinions regarding previous theories that regard shaping public the concepts of effi ciency and equity in public 4 organisations (such as the weberian state, the administration. scientifi c management theory or the classical The new public management imple- theory of administrative systems), pursuing mentation is accomplished through legislative a “transfer of business and management and institutional change processes. Change principles in the public sector”.1 is defi ned as an action of “replacement, Pollitt and Bouckaert (2011) modifi cation or transformation” of a pro- accumulate the effects of projecting the cess or phenomenon, with the purpose of private sector’s values and principles in the increasing the overall performance of the public sector, beading the objectives of new organisation.5 public management reforms: emphasize on The main vehicle of change is performance, quantifi cation of the added the legislative reform. The process of value of the organisation, preferring small change (adaptation) of norms that regard and specialised organisations, development administration can be regarded as an of contract-based hierarchical relations, expression of a regulatory mechanism that implementing marketing instruments in the simply adjusts real situations to the goals public sector, or considering public service of the organisation. These settlements or consumers as “clients”.2 adjustments of the juridical system of an

1 Dreschler, W. (2010), Public Administration in Times 3 Matei, Lucica (2006), Management public, second of Crisis, The 18th NISPAcee Annual Conference, edition, Bucharest: Editura Economică, p. 131 – 132. May 12 – 14, 2010, Warsaw, Poland, p. 17. 4 Percebois, L. (2007), Benefi ts without Drawbacks? 2 Pollitt, C., Bouckaert, G. (2011), Public Management Adverse or Complex Effects of Public Management Reform: A Comparative Analysis – New Public Reforms, Presupuesto y Gasto Público 48/2007, p. 150. Management, Governance, and the Neo-Weberian 5 Burduş, E., Căprărescu, G., Androniceanu, A. State, third edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, (2008), Managementul schimbării organizaţionale, p.10. third edition, Bucharest: Editura Economică, p. 14.

36 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 organisation can arrise as a consequence which national actors (the public sector of forecasting future challenges, as well as organisations of a member state) adopt the of encountering obstacles in the processes new European mechanisms and legal norms.7 of the public sector, in general, or of one Some of the core objectives of the organisation, in particular. Europeanization of public administrations in Distinctively for the public law order, the member states of the Union derive from the law – administration relationship is a a ser ies of principles underlined by the Euro- simbiotic one, decision-makers being forced pean Commission through the document to undergo processes of legislative change that European Governance – A white paper, prin- steer the institutional framework, following a ci ples such as openness of public institutions series of principles and recommendations for (through permanent communication in a the adoption, amendment or repeal processes manner accessible to a wide audience), of legal norms, such as:6 participation (ensuring the participation of the  Clarity of roles – competences, civil society in the processes of elaboration tasks and objectives of institutional actors and implementation of public policies, for involved in the process should be clear and a greater level of credibility from the civil transparent; society), responsibility (the competences of Rejection of unjustifi ed infl uences – these organisms must be precise and clear in to provide trust in the regulatory activities, it order to assume responsibility for actions and is recommended to block any infl uence that decisions undertaken), effi ciency (policies is outward of the decisional process or that must be effi cient, with clear objectives, and cannot bring an improvement; the decisions must be adopted at the adequate  Responsibility and transpa rency – level), coherence (policies must be coherent in order to increase the legitimity of the and easy to understand in order to eliminate institutional actors involved in these pro- implementation discrepancies).8 cesses, as well as the decisions adopted by Edoardo Chiti (2015) investigates them; the changes appropriate to the new public  Taking on engagements – the management, identifying four major effects assumption of fulfi lling quantitative and at the level of public administration of the qualitative objectives to increase effi ciency European Union, such as the “agentifi cation” and effectiveness of processes; of the public sector, the permanent reshaping  Adequate fi nancing – to prevent of the institutional framework by competence unjustifi ed infl uences and to guarantee an readjustments, the centralisation of powers improved quality of these processes; towards bodies with particular mission and  Evaluation of performance – tasks, as well as the accountability to coher- establishing control mechanisms for these ently forecast the effects of every decision.9 activities in order to correct potential errors. Agentifi cation can be regarded Numerous processes of adaptation of as the new public management process public organisations from Romania to exter- through which new public organisations nal challenges are triggered by the process are established, with specifi c mission of Europeanization of public administration. The Europeanization is regarded by research 7 Matei, Lucica, Iancu, Diana Camelia (2009), literature as a projection of the globalisation Europenizarea administraţiei şi funcţiei publice, process in the European environment, volumul I – Procese fundamentale ale europenizării thus implying the adaptation of normative administraţiei publice, second edition, Caiete Jean and administrative actions (depending on Monnet Collection, Bucharest: Editura Economică, the European context), whereas European p. 135. 8 European Commission (2001), European Governance – integration depicts the process through A White Paper, COM (2001) 428 fi nal, Brussels. 9 Chiti, E. (2015), In the Aftermath of the Crisis: 6 OECD (2014), The Governance of Regulators, The EU Administrative System between Impediments OECD Publishing. and Momentum, EUI Working Paper LAW 2015/13.

37 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 and goals, fi nding the public sector in a Thus, it is noticeable that when we continuous decentralisation and recalibration speak of simplifi cation seeking to achieve of competences. These “agentifi ed” bodies “regulatory fi tting”, we analyse these are granted a broad decisional power having processes on a cyclical point of view, as the prerogatives to regulate and monitor a normative changes reshape the activity of specifi c fi eld of the public sector, as well as public organisations, which, in turn, will a high level of independence in the processes resort to normative changes for corrections of elaboration and implementation of public of their activity. policies placed in their spectrum of infl uence. The processes of depoliticisation and A recurring preocupation is embodied professionalisation of public sector organisms by the simplifi cation processes. In order to can be found at the crossroads between the provide an answer to possible daily pressures new public management and the tendencies previously identifi ed. Politicisation of public experienced by public organisations, the sector decisions poses a series of obstacles in European Commission has launched REFIT the processes of public policies formulation (Regulatory Fitness and Performance and implementation, thus the manner in which Program), with the core task of assisting a problem is considered a public problem, member states in establishing a more clear requiring action from administrative bodies, and effi cient regulation. arises more profound questions regarding In the context of REFIT, the the nature of human knowledge and social Commission issued a communication that development of that knowledge, as political depicts its vision regarding simplifi cation, lobbying of some entities or individuals providing a series of precise technical details is stronger than the will of the people11. regarding the instruments that can be used Because of this, the new public management by regulatory bodies to deliver a greater doctrine seeks depolitising public services normative “fi tting”, COM (2005) 535 fi nal by establishing a decisional process aimed at stipulating that simplifi cation instruments solving the real problems of our society. that should have priority in application are:10 Dematerialisation of public adminis- 1. The repeal of irrelevant or obsolete tra tion also represents a reform and innova- normative documents, with regard to both tion guideline for improving the activity of the European legislation and the legislation public administration. Numerous political of member states; documents, as well as the research literature 2. Codifi cation of legislation, for a analyze the continuous development of greater transparency; information technology in the public 3. Legislative review, in order to sector as a means of cost streamlining and provide a clearer perspective for businesses bureaucratic simplifi cation. The keyword regarding the regulations that steer their of these documents is dematerialisation activity; (reducing the number of written documents and the number of documents archived or 4. Replacement of directives with managed on paper), but a greater attention regulations for a more precise and effective is granted to the debureaucratisation and aplication of legal norms; transparency building processes, as well as to 5. Promoting e-government platforms the consultations with interested parties, via for reducing the administrative burden. the new technical means. Technical challenges can be analysed 10 European Commission (2005), Communication from two interconnected perspectives. of the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Osborne and Brown (2005) explore a series Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 25 October 2005 “Implementing the Community Lisbon 11 Howlett M., Ramesh, M. (2004), Studiul Politicilor programme: A strategy for the simplifi cation of the Publice: cicluri şi subsisteme ale politicilor, Bucharest: regulatory environment”, COM (2005) 535 fi nal. Epigraf Publishing House, p. 121.

38 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 of challenges brought upon the public sector activities targeting the continuous training by the development of technology, examining of both its own specialized apparatus, and them from two perspectives: the challenges the personnel with attributes in the electoral brought forth by “hard” developments (such sector from other public sector organisations, as the need to use information technology as well as representatives of political as a means of broadcasting for the civil formations. Examples of such actions refer society, public service deliverance, or the to training sessions with county prefects, development organisational structures fo- mayors, persons authorised by mayors to cused on the IT fi eld) and “soft” developments operate in the Electoral Register, etc. (such as the development of new tasks both The general objectives of the for the leadership level and the executional activities deriving from the educational level)12. function reside in developing an electoral culture within society, contributing to an Reform Processes of the increase in social and political participation Romanian Electoral Field of citizens by representation in electoral From the theoretical analysis, we can bodies, to an increasing interest in elections, observe evolutive processes of the public sec- as well as to the professionalisation of public sector personnel, thus assuring a uniform tor such as agentifi cation, dematerialisation, application of legal provisions regarding sim plifi cation, transparency building, depo- organising and development of elections liti cisation, professionalisation or cost and political activities (http://www.roaep.ro/ streamlining. instruire/). The Permanent Electoral Authority, In order to enforce the uniformity through its activity, has undergone a series and improvement of the activities and the of reform and innovation projects aimed at legislation in the electoral fi eld, PEA has implementing these tendencies of public established the Electoral Expert Review, sector development in the activity of the providing a debate and knowledge sharing institution and in its fi eld of competence. platform for information and fi ndings in the With regard to the public sector fi eld, gathering opinions and points of view depoliticisation processes, PEA fulfi lls this issued by practitioners and researchers from goal by default, having the attribute of an the academic environment. independent administrative institution that The tendencies of depoliticisation and operates in compliance with the principles professionalisation of the electoral process of independence, impartiality, legality, are also proven by the establishment of transparency, effi ciency, professionalism, the Electoral Experts’ Body, a permanent accountability, sustainability, predictability register of persons with the vocation to be and legitimacy, having its own structure designated presidents of the polling stations composed of a specialized staff that cannot 13 or their deputies. This register is established, be part of political organisations or parties . managed and updated by the Permanent Staff professionalisation, a core Electoral Authority. element of the new public management The admission criteria for the Elec- theory, is noticed in the activity of the toral Experts’ Body assume their impartiality, Permanent Electoral Authority through its a mandatory condition being the non- educational role. Thus, besides the voters affi liation to a political organisation, as well training programs, the institution undergoes as a high level of professionalism, as they will be accepted in the body either following 12 Osborne, S. P., Brown, K. (2005), Managing Change the passing of an examination that assesses and Innovation in Public Service Organizations, their electoral fi eld competences, or on New York: Routledge, p. 19. 13 Law no. 208/2015 on election of Senate and Chamber demand, if they had previously fulfi lled the of Deputies and for organization and functioning of position of president of the polling station the Permanent Electoral Authority. or his deputy and have not committed

39 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 contraventions regarding elections or ref- of elections, normative changes, and so on. eren dums or have not committed serious Such initiatives show the openness of the errors in the operations of recording voting institution to dematerialisation processes, results in offi cial minutes. facilitating transposition of documents of Given either the previous experience, public interest into the virtual environment. or the capacity to pass an examination in the An important project implemented electoral domain, as well as the interdiction by the Permanent Electoral Authority to be a member of a political organisation, towards dematerialisation and improvement this project of the PEA can be indicated as of electoral processes via the broader use a clear step towards depoliticisation and of information technology is the System of professionalisation of the public sector and Monitoring the Presence at the Vote and of the electoral process. Preventing Illegal Voting (SIMPV). As a consequence of the objectives SIMPV is an innovative project for to increase transparency and the level of the Romanian electoral system which will knowledge of voters regarding the electoral be in practice for the fi rst time at this year’s process, the Permanent Electoral Authority local elections. PEA is responsible for the has launched the “First Vote” project, via implementation of this project, based on the the portal www.primulvot.ro, aiming both Electoral Register and the Polling Stations to increase the participation of the youth Register, being actively supported in this in the electoral process and a fast and clear endeavor by the Special Telecommunications distribution of essential information regarding Service (STS) and the National Institute of the conditions for exercising the right to vote Statistics. and the types of electoral processes that SIMPV targets the real-time moni- Romanian citizens participate in. toring of the voting turnout, the identifi cation Therefore, the users that visit the portal of the attempts of multiple voting and the easily acknowledge the legal framework, the verifi cation of the conditions for exercising electoral system, the types of elections and the legal right to vote. Art. 85 par. 2 of Law the term of offi ce of elected representatives, 115/2015 for the election of local authorities for every electoral process distinctively for the regulates that every voter can exercise its Romanian system. Through the portal, PEA right to vote only after being registered offers the training possibility by accomplishing by a computer operator in The System of an internship within the institution. Monitoring the Presence at the Vote and of The “First Vote” project achieved Preventing Illegal Voting. international recognition in December 2013, Computer operators are Romanian on the occasion of the Gala for International citizens residing in Romania, who speak Election Awards, when it was awarded the Romanian, are at least 18 years old at the First Time Voter Award. time of designation, have full legal capacity, Furthermore, the offi cial page of the have completed compulsory education Permanent Electoral Authority launched on and have basic knowledge of information Facebook supports the institution’s actions technology. They are recruited and trained to increase the degree of civil education by the Permanent Electoral Authority, regarding its activity. with the participation of the Special Tele- The large number of users on the communications Service. social platform and the possibility to set By registering all the voters on up notifi cations from the sources that are SIMPV, the members of the precinct of the of interest to users warrant that individuals electoral bureau can immediately discover that wish to be permanently informed the position of the voter in the permanent or regarding the activity of PEA or regarding complementary electoral lists, as well as if he electoral processes of Romania will be is assigned to another polling station, if he has apprised with the institution’s press releases, his voting rights suspended, if he is underage ongoing projects, organisation and conduct at the time of elections or if he has previously

40 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 been registered in the system by another Postal voting is also an innovative operator. The provisions of articles 387 and project undertaken by the Permanent Electoral 393 of the Romanian Criminal Code stipulate Authority and aimed to simplify. Through this that even the attempt of multiple voting is project, Romanian citizens residing abroad sanctioned. Thus, the system will play an will be able to express their right to vote by essential part in preventing or identifying and mail, with the benefi t of still keeping the sanctioning this kind of attempts. secrecy of voting and its freely expressed Another project aimed at improving character. The simplifi ed procedure that is transparency and dematerializing the elec- available to all citizens with voting rights will toral process is the implementation of ensure electoral processes better organized the Electoral Register by the Permanent and conducted for the Romanian diaspora. Electoral Authority. The Electoral Register is a computer system through which Conclusion the identifi cation data of the Romanian Evolutionary trends in the public citizens who have the right to vote and the sector in the Euro-Atlantic basin generate information regarding their assignations at greater proximity to citizens’ needs through polling stations are registered and updated in innovative processes of change. These a unifi ed database. All the more, the citizens processes of reform and innovation have with the right to vote benefi t from means of verifying the fairness of their data in the emerged as a result of implementing the Electoral Register and can point to any errors, principles and guidelines specifi c to the action omissions or incorrect entries. All the more, doctrine of new public management. The they can check online the polling stations to Permanent Electoral Authority asserts itself which they are assigned. as an institution of reference for analyzing the Administrative and normative simpli- application of these evolutionary processes fi cation is also supported by the activity of the in the public sector in Romania through its Permanent Electoral Authority. Examples of undertaken activities and projects. These simplifi cation refer to the ease the voters processes of agentifi cation, simplifi cation, can access the electoral legislation via the dematerialisation, depoliticisation, profession- offi cial website of PEA, the possibility to alisation, transparency building and effi ciency check online the polling stations to which a increasing of electoral processes in Romania voter is assigned, as well as the possibility contribute to the approach of the public of e-mail registering of applications for administration in Romania to the consumer the Electoral Experts’ Body or for their of public services, giving him the best designation as the computer operator of a conditions for the exercise of electoral rights polling station. and freedoms.

About the author: Octavian Mircea CHESARU is a PhD in public administration and has a strong educational background in the fi elds of law, international relations and administrative studies. He is profi cient in English and French. Having previously worked in the private sector, Octavian is now a parliamentary expert for the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, as he has always been interested in studying and observing the evolution of electoral systems and regulations.

41 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

References:  Burduş, E., Căprărescu, G., Androniceanu, A. (2008), Managementul schimbării organizaţionale, third edition, Bucharest: Editura Economică  Chiti, E. (2015), In the Aftermath of the Crisis: The EU Administrative System between Impediments and Momentum, EUI Working Paper LAW 2015/13  Dreschler, W. (2010), Public Administration in Times of Crisis, The 18th NISPAcee Annual Conference, May 12 – 14, 2010, Warsaw, Poland  European Commission (2001), European Governance – A White Paper, COM (2001) 428 fi nal, Brussels  European Commission (2005), Communication of the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 25 October 2005 “Implementing the Community Lisbon programme: A strategy for the simplifi cation of the regulatory environment”, COM (2005) 535 fi nal  Howlett, M., Ramesh, M. (2004), Studiul Politicilor Publice: cicluri şi subsisteme ale politicilor, Bucharest: Epigraf Publishing House  Matei, Lucica (2006), Management public, second edition, Bucharest: Editura Economică  Matei, Lucica, Iancu, Diana Camelia (2009), Europenizarea administraţiei şi funcţiei publice, volumul I – Procese fundamentale ale europenizării administraţiei publice, second edition, Caiete Jean Monnet Collection, Bucharest: Editura Economică  OECD (2014), The Governance of Regulators, OECD Publishing  Osborne, S. P., Brown, K. (2005), Managing Change and Innovation in Public Service Organizations, New York: Routledge  Percebois, L. (2007), Benefi ts without Drawbacks? Adverse or Complex Effects of Public Management Reforms, Presupuesto y Gasto Público 48/2007  Pollitt, C., Bouckaert, G. (2011), Public Management Reform: A Comparative Analysis – New Public Management, Governance, and the Neo-Weberian State, third edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press

42 INVOLVING CITIZENS IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION THE ROMANIAN ELECTORAL EXPERTS’ BODY

Denisa MARCU Head of Offi ce for Legislative Research and Relation with the Parliament

Alina GHERGHE Senior Adviser Department of Legislation, Parliament Liaison and Election Dispute Resolution, Permanent Electoral Authority

Abstract: Abstract:

What are we looking for when we ask Ce căutăm atunci când cerem inte- for the integrity of elections? Simply said, it gritate în alegeri? Formulat simplu, este is the feeling of each citizen that he or she vorba de sentimentul fi ecărui cetăţean că el/ is part of a fair and transparent electoral ea face parte dintr-un proces electoral corect process and his or her vote is one of the şi transparent şi că votul lui/ei este una dintre thousands bricks building the democratic sutele de cărămizi pe care se construieşte society. societatea democratică. One of the key elements in ensuring Unul dintre elementele-cheie în the public confi dence in the results of the asigurarea încrederii publice în rezultatele electoral processes is a professional conduct procesului electoral este organizarea cu of the elections. Like many times before has profesionalism a alegerilor. Aşa cum s-a mai been said, if citizens and candidates believe spus de multe ori, dacă cetăţenii şi candidaţii an election was unfair or poorly adminis- cred că nişte alegeri au fost inechitabile şi tered, they may not accept the outcome. organizate în mod necorespunzător, este posibil să nu accepte rezultatul acestora. Keywords: Electoral Experts’ Body, integrity of elections, polling station president, Cuvinte-cheie: Corpul experţilor citizens’ involvement, methodology of admission electorali, integritate în alegeri, preşedinte al secţiei de votare, implicarea cetăţenilor, procedura de admitere

The professional conduct of election candidate during the electoral campaigns, by informed, trained and trusted offi cials, these are all inseparable conditions for a fair the establishment of the fragile equilibrium election. between political parties’ interests and the In 2015, in the context of a major impartiality required from the members of reform of the Romanian electoral framework, electoral bureaux, the prevention of misuse was created the Electoral Experts’ Body. of the administrative resources by the state This body is formed by trained citizens who authorities in favor of a political party or potentially are to be selected as presidents

43 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 of the polling station electoral bureaux or parliamentary elections1, recently adopted their deputies. in 2015, provisions referring to creation The idea of directly involving citizens and functioning of the Electoral Experts’ in the election administration is not new, we Body. According to art. 120 of the law, the used it until 2015, but the legal solution used provisions regarding electoral experts are before had two major disadvantages, the lack also applying to elections for president of of time and the lack of continuity. Romania, local public authorities, European Each election there are approximately Parliament, national and local referendums. 18,500 polling stations organized in Romania What is Electoral Experts’ and almost 300 polling stations organized Body? abroad. So for each electoral process the authorities had to select almost 40,000 people Electoral Experts’ Body represents and train them in order to perform their duties a permanent database containing persons as presidents and deputies of the polling who may be presidents of polling stations stations electoral bureaux. The selection and electoral bureaux within the country and training activities were performed only after abroad or their deputies. This database was the beginning of the electoral period, more created and it is managed by the Permanent Electoral Authority. precisely, the presidents of the polling stations The person who will have the quality electoral bureaux were selected 15 days prior of electoral expert must meet general con- to the election day and then trained. ditions referring to Romanian citizenship, So each electoral process we had to written and spoken Romanian language, an resolve the same problems. On one hand, we appropriate health condition, completion of had a very short period of time allocated, (at least) compulsory education. Of course, according to the law, for training the the electoral expert has to have the right citizens to become electoral offi cials. to vote. There are also specifi c conditions On the other hand, we were aiming to ensure the impartiality and the confronted with the lack of continuity in moral conduct of the person entrusted to their activity. In each electoral process we temporary hold a public offi ce. The electoral had new people involved, and this resulted expert has not to be a member of a political often in an insuffi cient acknowledgement party and not to be criminally prosecuted or of the electoral laws and procedures. convicted. After the presidential elections in The intention of the law was to 2014, the Permanent Electoral Authority conserve and use the already existing included in the Election Report the proposal experience of electoral process management of creating a permanent body of electoral and also to constantly train new people. So experts, aiming to bring together citizens admission to the Electoral Experts’ Body interested to be directly involved in election is based on the favorable opinion given by administration. We believe this is one of the the Permanent Electoral Authority after best opportunities to actively involve people analyzing the previous work as president or in the democratic exercise of their political deputy of the polling station bureau or, in the case of persons without previous experience, and electoral rights which are far more on an examination. numerous than the right to vote and the right 1. The person who held the position of to be elected. Also the direct involvement president or deputy of polling station bureau in election management should increase at least one election must submit a written the feeling of transparency, correctness and access of citizens to electoral process. 1 Law no. 208/2015 on election of Senate and Chamber As a response to our initiative, the of Deputies and for organization and functioning of Parliament included in Law regarding the Permanent Electoral Authority.

44 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 application no later than 45 days before – fulfi lls the general legal requirements the election date. Admission is issued by (has Romanian citizenship; knows Romanian the Department of organization of electoral language, both written and spoken; has the processes within Permanent Electoral right to vote; has an appropriate health Authority, if the person: condition to fulfi ll this function; is not part – fulfi lls the general legal requirements of a political party; has completed at least (has Romanian citizenship; knows Romanian compulsory education; is not criminally language, both written and spoken; has the prosecuted or convicted). Verifi cation of right to vote; has an appropriate health conditions’ fulfi llment is performed by condition to fulfi ll this function; is not part analyzing the statement of the applicant, of a political party; has completed at least the identity card copy and the copy of the compulsory education; is not criminally education diploma; prosecuted or convicted). Verifi cation of – has not exercised the functions conditions’ fulfi llment is performed by of president or deputy of a polling station analyzing the statement of the applicant, bureau or the identity card copy and the copy of the – was excluded from Electoral education diploma. Experts’ Body, whether the exclusion took – did not commit minor offences in place more than three years before the connection with elections or referendums examination; while performing functions of president or – withdrew from the Electoral deputy of a polling station electoral bureau. Experts’ Body, if the withdrawal took place Verifi cation is realized by analyzing the more than a year before the exam. correspondence received by Permanent In order to clearly establish the Electoral Authority from electoral bodies, procedure for admission, the Permanent as well as from other public authorities and Electoral Authority adopted Decision institutions, regarding the establishment of no. 11/2015 regarding the Methodology of minor offences in the electoral fi eld. admission in Electoral Experts’ Body. – did not commit serious errors in The admission in this case may the report ascertaining the election results. take the form of a written exam held in an Verifi cation is realized by analyzing the examination center or an online system exam, report ascertaining the election results, both forms having the objective to assess the drafted and signed by the person requesting following competencies: favorable opinion. – knowledge of legislation on voting – has not been excluded from Electoral rights and the application thereof; Experts’ Body; – planning of electoral operations in – has not retired from Electoral polling stations; Experts’ Body; – registering the results of the vote. – submitted the application stating Candidates who do not pass the that he/she meets legal requirements and also admission exam can participate in a new a copy of the identity act and of the education written exam or in an online system exam diploma. scheduled by telephone or online, without If the person does not meet legal further formalities. requirements the Permanent Electoral The Management of Electoral Authority will issue a decision of rejection of the application for admission to Electoral Expert’s Body Experts’ Body. The records maintained by the 2. A person may participate at the Permanent Electoral Authority regarding the examination for admission into Electoral Electoral Experts’ Body include identifi cation Experts’ Body if he/she submitted a written data of persons registered, such as: name, request and: surname, personal identifi cation number,

45 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 domicile, residence, occupation, profession, electoral process that candidates participating phone and e-mail. in elections, their husbands/wives and their The Permanent Electoral Authority relatives until the second grade cannot be shall make public, by posting on its website, members of the electoral bureau. the identifi cation of persons registered in In the same context, according to the Electoral Experts’ Body, namely: name; art. 16 par. (16) of Law no. 208/2015, the surname; father’s initial; residence – only the electoral experts cannot participate in any county and town or Bucharest district, where way to electoral campaigns. appropriate. The request for the president of the In the case of offenses committed electoral bureau and his/her deputy to be on elections or referendums, as well as for politically independent aims to ensure the committing serious errors in the record of equilibrium of decision-making process voting results in the minutes, the Permanent inside the bureau. The law encourages Electoral Authority may issue a decision to as much as possible magistrates and law exclude a person from the Electoral Experts’ graduates to be selected for this functions Body. because in Romania the magistrates are Withdrawal from Electoral Experts’ highly respected in their communities and, Body is carried out based on written request according to the law, are impartial. Covering by the electoral expert, within 5 days from over 18,000 polling stations with magistrates the date of commencement of the electoral is not possible, so the other criteria stipulated period. by the law refer to residing in that county, Suspension from the Electoral domicile or residence proximity to the polling Expert’s Body is requested in writing by the station and the graduated studies. electoral expert, no later than 30 days before The selection procedure is impartial election day, if they can’t act as presidents and transparent. The Permanent Electoral of the polling station electoral bureaux or as Authority organizes a public computerized deputy, during that election process. draw of lots at each county level, 15 days prior to the Election Day. This event is publicly Selection and Training for Each announced 48 hours before. The results Electoral Process are published on the Permanent Electoral The road between being enlisted in Authority’s website, on the constituency the electoral experts database and holding the electoral bureau’s website and at the con- offi ce of the president or deputy of a polling stituency electoral bureau establishment. station electoral bureau has some additional During the electoral period, additional steps. training of the presidents and deputies of The polling station electoral bureau the polling station electoral bureaux will be has a mixt composition. On one hand, there organized by the prefects together with the are the president of the bureau and his/her Permanent Electoral Authority. deputy, selected, on a draw of lots basis, The Fair and Impartial Conduct from the citizens enlisted in the electoral experts’ database. On the other hand, of Elections there are 7 representatives of the political Once selected and confi rmed as a competitors (political parties and alliances, president or deputy of a polling station electoral alliances, organizations of national electoral bureau, the person will have to minorities). perform with professionalism and impartiality Taking into consideration the high his/her duties stipulated by the electoral law. implication of the polling station electoral Together with the rest of the members of the bureau members in the conduct of elections, electoral bureau, he/she will be involved in: all the Romanian electoral laws stipulate, – the fi nal stage of election as an additional measure in favor of a fair organization, including receiving and

46 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 inspecting the electoral materials used for extend outside the building of the polling voting (ballots, electoral lists, etc.), station, in the courtyard, at the entries into – the election day, conducting the the courtyard, around the building, as well voting operation and keeping order in the as in the streets and public squares, within a polling station offi ce and around it, distance of 50 m. To keep order, the president – the counting and establishment of of the electoral bureau of the polling station the results procedures, shall have at his disposal the necessary – the electoral dispute resolution, means of order, provided by the mayor and dealing with the complaints regarding the the prefect, together with the representatives electoral bureau’s activity. of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The law stipulates that some of the Currently we are actively involved in actions specifi c to the pre-election day or the activity of processing the written requests election day can be performed only by the received from the persons wishing to become president/the deputy of a polling station an electoral expert. We have received more electoral bureau. than 24,000 application forms so far, 2,584 In fact, all the major decisions from persons who have never been involved affecting the voting operations are to be made by the president of the electoral bureau, in the conduct of elections. The necessary starting with the opening of the polling number for the next local authorities’ station, then checking the state of electoral elections in June 2016 is, as previously materials, approving the cases where a mobile mentioned, around 40,000. ballot box is sent, preventing a voter from A national information campaign was casting his vote twice, suspending the voting organized and conducted by the Permanent procedure, if necessary, taking measures for Electoral Authority since September last ensuring the good development of the voting year. process, announcing the end of voting time We are optimistic in believing that our and closing the polling station, etc. citizens will join us in election administration, The president of the electoral bureau participating actively to the democratic life of of the polling station shall be bound also to the Romanian society, contributing directly take the necessary measures for the proper to the conduct of a fair, transparent, impartial conduct of the elections. His duties shall also and trusted electoral process.

47 RAPOARTE, SINTEZE ŞI INFORMĂRI

REPORTS, SYNTHESES AND BRIEFINGS PROCESELE ELECTORALE ORGANIZATE ÎN ROMÂNIA ‒ INTERES ŞI PERCEPŢIE RAPORT DE CERCETARE

Bogdan FARTUŞNIC, consultant parlamentar Biroul pentru documentare legislativă şi relaţia cu Parlamentul Direcţia legislaţie, legătura cu Parlamentul şi contencios electoral

Introducere de informare efi cientă în vederea desfãşurării unor alegeri. Răspunsurile participanţilor la Având în vedere caracterul electoral studiu au fost culese prin efortul angajaţilor al anului 2016, care programează atât fi lialelor şi birourilor judeţene ale Autorităţii alegeri ale autorităţilor administraţiei pu- Electorale Permanente. blice locale, cât şi alegeri pentru cele două Instrumentul de măsurare utilizat a fost Camere ale Parlamentului României, dar un chestionar autoaplicat online sau personal, şi responsabilităţile legale pe care le are în alcătuit din cinci întrebări cu variante de domeniu, Autoritatea Electorală din România răspuns închise şi o întrebare semideschisă a desfăşurat în perioada noiembrie 2015 – (Anexa 1). Eşantionul cercetării a avut o februarie 2016 cercetarea cu titlul Procesele dimensiune de 1.229 de persoane, 53,4% electorale organizate în România ‒ interes femei şi 46,6% bărbaţi, provenind din toate şi percepţie. Acest demers este al patrulea judeţele ţării, atât din mediul rural (37,8%), efectuat de Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă cât şi din mediul urban (62,2%). Din punctul în ultimii cinci ani, precedentele având de vedere al structurii eşantionului în funcţie următoarele teme: Interesul tinerilor pentru de vârstă, categoria cel mai bine reprezentată viaţa politică – iunie 2011; Dimensiunea de este cea între 41 şi 55 de ani (35,7%), urmată gen a vieţii politice din România – interes, de categoria cuprinsă între 27 şi 40 de ani implicare, discriminare1 – martie 2014; (34,6%). Persoanele cu vârsta peste 55 de Percepţia şi opinia tinerilor asupra proceselor ani au reprezentat cea mai mică pondere electorale din România2 – aprilie 2015. în totalul eşantionului (13,6%). Efectuarea Obiectivele principale urmărite prin unei analize în funcţie de nivelul de educaţie intermediul cercetării Procesele electorale al persoanelor care compun eşantionul organizate în România ‒ interes şi percepţie arată o majoritate netă a categoriei cu studii au vizat colectarea unui set de informaţii superioare sau postuniversitare (64%). privind opinia şi percepţia cetăţenilor asupra De asemenea, 27,5% dintre participanţii subiectelor politice şi a instituţiilor din admi- la studiu au indicat drept ultimă şcoală nistraţia centrală şi locală. De asemenea, s-a absolvită liceul sau şcoala postliceală. urmărit înregistrarea atât a unor informaţii Mai puţin de 10% dintre componenţii utile în privinţa dorinţei de implicare activă eşantionului fac parte din categoriile care a cetăţenilor în organizarea proceselor desemnează nivelul de educaţie ca şcoală electorale, cât şi a opiniilor acestora despre primară, gimnazială sau profesională. Luând modul în care ar trebui realizată o campanie în calcul statisticile menţionate, din punct de

1 vedere sociodemografi c, portretul-robot al par- Document disponibil la adresa: http://www.roaep. ti cipantului la cercetare cel mai comun regăsit ro/prezentare/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Revista_ Expert_Electoral_Nr_5.pdf în cadrul eşantionului este: femeie din mediul 2 Document disponibil la adresa: http://www.primulvot. urban cu vârsta cuprinsă între 41 şi 55 de ani, ro/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Raport-pdf.pdf cu studii superioare sau postuniversitare.

49 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

Validarea, analizarea şi inter- faptul că în luna iunie 2016 urmează să pretarea rezultatelor obţinute se organizeze alegeri pentru autorităţile administraţiei publice locale. Înainte de realizarea analizei şi interpretării rezultatelor, datele obţinute în urma aplicării chestionarului au trecut printr-o etapă de validare în vederea asigu- rării faptului că informaţiile culese sunt reprezentative din punct de vedere ştiinţifi c şi că nu există probleme în ceea ce priveşte consistenţa internă a instrumentului de măsurare utilizat. A fost necesară verifi carea validităţii de conţ inut şi a fi delităţii prin consistenţă internă a scalelor utilizate. Pentru aceasta am folosit coefi cientul Cronbach’s Alpha, precum şi corelaţii între scorul sumativ Acest nivel de cunoaştere cu adevărat şi itemii care alcătuiesc scalele. Validitatea ne foarte ridicat poate fi explicat prin cel puţin arată dacă instrumentul utilizat măsoară chiar două moduri, care nu se exclud reciproc, elementele pe care am dorit să le măsoare. funcţionând mai degrabă într-o relaţie de Rezultatele testelor efectuate au arătat că tipul cauză–efect. Alegerile locale reprezintă nu există probleme legate de validitatea de în mod tradiţional un moment important conţinut şi de fi delitatea scalelor utilizate din punct de vedere electoral, atât pentru (Anexa 2). cetăţenii care îşi desemnează reprezentanţii La prima întrebare inclusă în a căror infl uenţă asupra traiului cotidian este chestionar a fost obţinut un procent covârşitor: cea mai însemnată, cât şi pentru partidele 73,7% dintre respondenţi au indicat corect politice, în vederea pregătirii pentru alegerile

50 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 parlamentare din toamna acestui an. Nivelul ţionate în studiu, Parlamentul European, de mobilizare pe care îl declanşează alegerile procentul este mult mai redus, dar trece peste locale poate fi uşor observat dacă ne uităm nivelul de 55%. O astfel de conştientizare a pe valorile prezenţei la urne înregistrate în importanţei pe care o exercită toate aceste urmă cu patru ani, 56,26% la nivel naţional instituţii asupra traiului cotidian al cetăţenilor în cazul alegerilor locale din luna iunie 2012 reprezintă un pas corect în direcţia consoli- ş ţ i doar 41,76% la nivel na ional la alegerile dării unei societăţi democratice. În momentul parlamentare din luna decembrie a aceluiaşi în care activitatea unei instituţii publice an. Din acest motiv, comunicarea publică este percepută ca fi ind foarte importantă, privind alegerile locale este foarte intensă în atunci nivelul de responsabilizare creşte, ultimele luni, dovadă fi ind procentul foarte ş ă ridicat de persoane care au identifi cat corect atât din partea electoratului care î i voteaz următorul eveniment electoral care va avea reprezentanţii, cât şi din partea deţinătorilor loc în România. respectivelor poziţii publice. Prin intermediul celei de-a doua Instituţia publică a cărei activitate întrebări incluse în chestionar s-au urmărit este considerată a fi cea mai importantă este înregistrarea şi măsurarea percepţiei respon- Guvernul României, 61,3% dintre parti- denţilor asupra nivelului infl uenţei exercitate cipanţii la studiu exprimând această opinie. de activitatea unor instituţii publice din Trebuie însă subliniat faptul că, dintre România asupra traiului cotidian. Trebuie instituţiile rezultate direct în urma unor subliniat faptul că dimensiunea cuantifi cată alegeri, primăria localităţii de domiciliu prin intermediul acestei întrebări se referă acumulează cel mai mare procent în privinţa strict la percepţia respondenţilor, având importanţei activităţii asupra traiului cotidian, prin urmare calitate de opinie exprimată, peste 60% dintre respondenţi afi rmând acest ţă ă ă nu de infl uen efectiv exercitat de insti- lucru. Percepţia gradului de infl uenţă al tuţiile respective, măsurată din punct de diverselor instituţii asupra traiului zilnic al vedere statistic. De asemenea, nu s-a urmărit cetăţenilor este direct proporţională cu rata măsurarea atitudinii pozitive sau negative a respondenţilor asupra activităţii instituţiilor de participare la alegerile organizate pentru ţ ă incluse în studiu. Astfel, se observă că respectivele institu ii. Observ m astfel un procentul persoanelor care consideră nivel ridicat de prezenţă la urne în cazul importantă şi foarte importantă asupra scrutinului pentru autorităţile administraţiei traiului zilnic infl uenţa activităţii Parla- publice locale, urmat de alegerile pentru mentului României, Guvernului României şi Parlamentul României şi de un nivel mult mai a primăriei localităţii de domiciliu depăşeşte scăzut în cazul alegerilor pentru Parlamentul 80%. În cazul singurei instituţii externe men- European.

Tabelul 1. Frecvenţele procentuale înregistrate la întrebarea „Cât de importantă consideraţi că este infl uenţa activităţii următoarelor instituţii asupra traiului dumneavoastră zilnic?” Nu ştiu / Nivel de importanţă / Foarte Puţin Deloc Importantă Nu Variabilă importantă importantă importantă răspund Parlamentul României 50,9% 32% 9,2% 2,4% 5,5% Guvernul României 61,3% 26,7% 5,9% 1,8% 4,3% Primăria localităţii 60,4% 26,2% 7,3% 2,2% 3,9% în care locuiţi Parlamentul European 24,7% 33,8% 22,5% 9% 10%

51 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

Potrivit răspunsurilor înregistrate situaţi în aceeaşi categorie urmăresc cel puţin la întrebarea numărul trei din chestionar, de câteva ori pe săptămână ştiri şi emisiuni televiziunea reprezintă cel mai utilizat mijloc politice la televizor. de informare în masă asupra subiectelor Pierderea constantă de audienţă din politice atât la nivelul întregului eşantion, partea presei scrise este vizibilă şi în rezul- cât şi în funcţie de diversele categorii tatele obţinute în cadrul cercetării de faţă, sociodemografi ce. Astfel, aproximativ 43% mass-media tipărită situându-se pe ultima dintre respondenţi afi rmă că urmăresc zilnic poziţie între mijloacele de comunicare în la televizor ştiri şi emisiuni politice, în masă în privinţa informării pe teme politice timp ce subiectele politice din mass-media a respondenţilor. Aproximativ 20% dintre online, bloguri şi site-uri de socializare participanţi afi rmă că nu citesc niciodată sunt accesate zilnic doar de 28,2% dintre informaţii şi comentarii politice din presa participanţii la studiu. Dacă ne referim scrisă, în timp ce doar 18,7% declară că au strict la categoria sociodemografi că cu cea acest obicei zilnic. Ponderea presei scrise ca mai mare probabilitate să utilizeze frecvent importanţă între mijloacele de comunicare mijloacele de informare virtuale, persoanele în masă este mai redusă chiar şi decât cea cu vârsta cuprinsă între 18 şi 26 de ani din a radioului, 16,7% dintre respondenţi afi r- mediul urban, constatăm că 45,9% dintre mând că nu ascultă niciodată emisiuni de acestea urmăresc cel puţin de câteva ori pe ştiri şi comentarii politice, în timp ce, la săptămână subiectele politice din mass-media polul opus, 20,7% declară că fac acest lucru online, în timp ce 60,7% dintre respondenţii zilnic.

Tabelul 2. Frecvenţele procentuale înregistrate la întrebarea „În general cât de des…?” De De De câteva Nu ştiu/ Periodicitate / câteva câteva Doar la Zilnic ori pe Deloc Nu Variabilă ori pe ori pe alegeri săptămână răspund lună an vă uitaţi la ştiri şi 42,8% 31,7% 13,7% 4,7% 2,1% 4,1% 0,9% emisiuni politice la posturile TV ascultaţi emisiuni 20,7% 22,5% 20,3% 12,5% 3,8% 16,7% 3,5% de ştiri şi comentarii politice la radio citiţi informaţii şi 18,7% 22,8% 18,9% 13,1% 3,9% 19,2% 3,4% comentarii politice din ziare citiţi informaţii şi 28,2% 23,4% 17,3% 9% 2,6% 16,2% 3,3% comentarii politice pe internet (mass- media online, bloguri, site-uri de socializare etc.)

52 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

Tabelul 3. Polarizarea răspunsurilor la întrebarea „În general cât de des…?” Cel puţin Cel mult Doar la alegeri Periodicitate / Variabilă de câteva ori de câteva ori sau deloc pe săptămână pe lună vă uitaţi la ştiri şi emisiuni politice la TV 74,5% 18,4% 6,2%

ascultaţi emisiuni de ştiri şi comentarii 43,2% 32,8% 20,5% politice la radio citiţi informaţii şi comentarii politice 41,5% 32% 23,1% din ziare citiţi informaţii şi comentarii politice 51,6% 26,3% 18,8% pe internet (mass-media online, bloguri, site-uri de socializare etc.)

Prin intermediul întrebării numărul ar dori să le găsească într-o campanie de patru s-a urmărit înregistrarea tipului de informare realizată de Autoritatea Electorală informaţii pe care participanţii la studiu Permanentă asupra unor alegeri organizate în

Tabelul 4. Frecvenţa procentuală a nominalizărilor la întrebarea „Vă rugăm să menţionaţi informaţiile pe care aţi dori să le găsiţi într-o campanie de informare realizată de Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă asupra unor alegeri organizate în România”

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România. De subliniat faptul că întrebarea s-a referit la toate tipurile de alegeri în general, regăsindu-se astfel şi categorii de informaţii care nu se aplică în cazul alegerilor locale (de exemplu: unde votează cetăţenii români care nu se afl ă în localitatea de domiciliu sau în ţară în ziua votului). Cele mai multe opţiuni s-au îndreptat spre informaţiile referitoare la calendarul alegerilor (data, intervalul orar în care se poate vota, durata campaniei electorale etc.), informaţiile referitoare la modul în care se poate vota (documentele necesare, cum se poate afl a secţia de votare la care este arondat alegătorul etc.) şi informaţiile despre desfăşurarea procesului electoral din funcţiile locul în care pot vota alegătorii care nu se menţionate, 29,3 % dintre ei menţionând că afl ă în localitatea de domiciliu în ziua votului. au experienţă anterioară în ocuparea acestor La polul opus, cele mai puţine nominalizări poziţii. Rezultatele obţinute în cadrul cerce- au fost înregistrate în cazul informaţiilor tării sunt susţinute de numărul ridicat de referitoare la datele de contact ale instituţi- cereri depuse de cetăţeni pentru desemnarea ilor implicate în organizarea alegerilor şi ca ofi ciali în cadrul secţiilor de votare, până informaţiilor referitoare la observatorii din în data de 18 decembrie 2015 Autoritatea secţiile de votare. A fost consemnat şi un Electorală Permanentă consemnând un număr număr redus de solicitări pentru includerea de 25.710 persoane care şi-au exprimat dorinţa altor tipuri de informaţii, cele mai multe să participe la alegerile locale din luna iunie dintre aceste menţiuni referindu-se la nece- în calitate de operatori de calculator în cadrul sitatea unei informări mult mai detaliate unei secţii de votare. asupra candidaţilor în alegeri, un curriculum Întrebarea numărul şase s-a referit vitae care să conţină experienţa profesională la intenţia declarată de participare la un ş ă ţ ţ i politic , informa ii despre existen a unor eventual scrutin, având astfel un caracter ş eventuale probleme penale i orice alt tip general şi nefi ind formulată în legătură strict de informaţii relevante pentru formarea unei cu alegerile locale din luna iunie 2016. La fel opinii fundamentate înainte de acordarea ca în cazul studiilor precedente efectuate de votului. Deşi această propunere ar putea fi Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă, procentul binevenită pentru democraţia din România, persoanelor care declară că intenţionează implementarea ei depinde în cea mai mare să-şi exercite dreptul de vot în cazul desfăşu- măsură de partidele politice, de instituţiile ă mass-media şi de reprezentanţii societăţii r rii unor alegeri este foarte ridicat (82,5%). ţ ă ă civile, Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă 11,6% dintre participan i au r spuns c nu având un rol limitat de prevederile legale în ştiu sau nu vor să răspundă dacă intenţionează această privinţă. La întrebarea cinci referitoare la interesul manifestat pentru implicarea în des- făşurarea alegerilor în calitate de preşedinte al unui birou electoral al unei secţii de votare sau ca locţiitor al acestuia, cei mai mulţi respondenţi (38,1%) au declarat că nu au mai participat în aceste funcţii şi nu sunt interesaţi de acest lucru în viitor. În acelaşi timp trebuie subliniat faptul că aproape jumătate dintre participanţii la studiu (46,5%) au afi rmat că sunt interesaţi de implicarea activă în

54 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 să se prezinte la urne, în timp ce doar Informaţiile obligatorii care trebuie aproximativ 6% au declarat în mod clar că nu introduse în viitoarele campanii de informare doresc să participe la vot. Tendinţa de creştere sunt: prezentarea clară, uşor de identifi cat a ratei de prezenţă la urne în România este a datei alegerilor, intervalul orar în care se confi rmată de situaţia înregistrată la cele două poate vota, durata campaniei electorale şi evenimente electorale care au avut loc în anul alte date referitoare la calendarul alegerilor, 2014. La scrutinul pentru alegerea membrilor informaţii referitoare la modul în care se Parlamentului European organizat în luna mai poate vota (documentele necesare, cum se poate afl a secţia de votare la care este arondat 2014 în România s-a înregistrat cea mai mare alegătorul prin popularizarea secţiunii prezenţă la urne (32,4%)3, comparativ cu publice a Registrului electoral), informaţii precedentele momente electorale de acest tip despre modul în care pot vota alegătorii ş din 2007 (29,5%) i 2009 (27,7%). În ciuda care nu se afl ă în localitatea de domiciliu valorii procentuale care poate părea redusă, în ziua alegerilor (acolo unde se aplică), ţara noastră a consemnat a cincea cea mai informaţii asupra faptelor care constituie mare evoluţie pozitivă (+ 4,7%) din Uniunea infracţiuni electorale şi asupra felului în care Europeană, comparativ cu alegerile din 2009. se pedepsesc ele. Este preferabil ca atât în Doar în Lituania (+ 26,3%), Grecia (+7,4%), materialele printate, cât şi în cele video Suedia (+ 5,6%) şi Germania (+ 4,8%) s-au informaţiile să fi e prezentate sub formă consemnat evoluţii pozitive ale prezenţei la de infografi c, pentru o accesibilitate cât mai urne mai însemnate decât în ţara noastră.4 mare din partea publicului-ţintă. O situaţie şi mai elocventă s-a înregistrat  Procentul persoanelor care declară cu ocazia alegerilor pentru Preşedintele că intenţionează să se prezinte la urne la urmă- României din luna noiembrie 2014, unde toarele alegeri este foarte ridicat, peste 82%, ă ă procentul de prezenţă de 64,1 înregistrat la astfel c promovarea excesiv a mesajului privind mobilizarea prezenţei la vot s-ar putea turul secund din 16 noiembrie reprezintă cel dovedi redundantă. În mod cert rata participării mai mare nivel pentru acest tip de scrutin din la urne care urmează să se înregistreze la ă anul 2000 pân în prezent. viitoarele alegeri nu se va apropia de procentul Concluzii şi recomandări sus-menţionat, dar, având în vedere caracterul special al alegerilor locale, este recomandabil  Nivelul de cunoaştere în rândul ca mesajul principal să se concentreze şi pe populaţiei cu privire la faptul că în luna iunie alte aspecte în afara promovării prezenţei se vor organiza alegeri locale este ridicat, la vot. Un spaţiu semnifi cativ în mesajele de prin urmare campania de informare ar informare trebuie ocupat de popularizarea cât trebui să se concentreze pe popularizarea mai efi cientă a modifi cărilor recente survenite datei exacte la care acestea vor avea loc. în legislaţia electorală.  Indiferent de categoriile socio -  Campania prin care Autoritatea demografi ce analizate, televiziunea rămâne Electorală Permanentă a popularizat oportu- ş principalul canal de comunicare în masă nitatea înscrierii în calitate de pre edinte, locţiitor sau operator de calculator în secţiile utilizat. Chiar dacă tinerii folosesc cu de votare trebuie continuată, având în vedere preponderenţă spaţiul virtual, acesta nu este atât rezultatele obţinute în cadrul prezentei accesat cu prioritate pentru informare în cercetări, cât şi numărul de persoane care ţ privin a subiectelor politice. şi-au manifestat până în prezent interesul pentru ocuparea respectivelor poziţii. Corpul 3 Conform informaţiilor disponibile la adresa: http:// experţilor electorali este o structură în alegeri.roaep.ro/ ă 4 Conform datelor disponibile la adresa: http://www. continu schimbare, fi ind prin urmare nece- europarl.europa.eu/elections2014-results/en/country- sară înscrierea constantă a unui număr cât mai introduction-2014.html mare de persoane.

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Anexa 1. (Chestionarul utilizat) Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă realizează un studiu privind interesul şi percepţia cetăţenilor asupra alegerilor organizate în România. Răspunsurile dumneavoastră vor rămâne confi denţiale şi vor fi folosite strict în scopuri ştiinţifi ce. Vă mulţumim!

Vă rugăm să încercuiţi varianta de răspuns care se potriveşte opiniei dumneavoastră!

1. În luna iunie a anului 2016 în România se vor organiza alegeri generale naţionale. Din cunoştinţele dumneavoastră, evenimentul electoral va avea ca scop alegerea...? 1. membrilor din România în Parlamentul European 2. autorităţilor administraţiei publice locale (primărie, consiliu local/judeţean) 3. Preşedintelui României 4. membrilor Parlamentului României 5. Nu ştiu/Nu răspund

2. Cât de importantă consideraţi că este infl uenţa activităţii următoarelor instituţii asupra traiului dumneavoastră zilnic?

Foarte Puţin Deloc Nu ştiu/ Instituţie Importantă importantă importantă importantă Nu răspund Parlamentul României 32109 Guvernul României 32109 Primăria localităţii 32109 în care locuiţi Parlamentul European 32109

3. De câteva De Nu ştiu/ De câteva Doar la În general cât de des… ? Zilnic ori pe câteva ori Deloc Nu ori pe an alegeri săptămână pe lună răspund vă uitaţi la ştiri 5 4 3 2 10 9 şi emisiuni politice la posturile TV ascultaţi emisiuni 5 4 3 2 10 9 de ştiri şi comentarii politice la radio citiţi informaţii 5 4 3 2 10 9 şi comentarii politice din ziare citiţi informaţii 5 4 3 2 10 9 şi comentarii politice pe internet (mass-media online, bloguri, site-uri de socializare etc.)

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4. Vă rugăm să menţionaţi informaţiile pe care aţi dori să le găsiţi într-o campanie de informare realizată de Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă asupra unor alegeri organizate în România? (puteţi bifa oricâte răspunsuri doriţi)  Informa ţii referitoare la calendarul alegerilor (data alegerilor, intervalul orar în care se poate vota, durata campaniei electorale etc.)  Informaţii referitoare la modul în care se poate vota (documentele necesare, cum se poate afl a secţia de votare la care este arondat alegătorul etc.)  Procedura votării prin intermediul urnei speciale  Unde votează alegătorii care nu se afl ă în localitatea de domiciliu în ziua votului  Unde votează cetăţenii români care nu se afl ă în ţară în ziua alegerilor  Cum se stabilesc rezultatele alegerilor  Ce fapte constituie infracţiuni electorale şi cum se pedepsesc  Informaţii referitoare la datele de contact ale instituţiilor implicate în organizarea alegerilor  Informaţii referitoare la observatorii din secţiile de votare  Cum trebuie să decurgă procedura de vot din secţia de votare pentru fi ecare alegător  Atribuţiile instituţiilor pentru care se organizează alegeri  Alte informaţii (menţionaţi care)......

5. Sunteţi interesat/ă să vă implicaţi în desfăşurarea alegerilor ca preşedinte al unui birou electoral al unei secţii de votare sau ca locţiitor al acestuia? 1. Da, am mai participat în aceste funcţii 2. Da, dar nu am mai participat în aceste funcţii 3. Am mai participat, dar nu mai doresc acest lucru 4. Nu am mai participat şi nu sunt interesat de acest lucru 9. Nu ştiu/Nu răspund

6. Dacă duminica viitoare ar avea loc alegeri, aţi participa la vot? 1. Da 2. Nu 9. Nu ştiu/Nu răspund

În fi nal vă rugăm să ne oferiţi câteva date despre dumneavoastră, pentru o mai bună clasifi care a răspunsurilor: Vârsta: 1. 18 – 26 de ani 2. 27 – 40 de ani 3. 41 – 55 de ani 4. peste 55 de ani

Mediul de rezidenţă: 1. Rural 2. Urban

Genul: 1. Masculin 2. Feminin

Ultima şcoală absolvită: 1. şcoală primară sau gimnazială 2. şcoală profesională 3. liceu/şcoală postliceală 4. studii superioare/postuniversitare

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Anexa 2. (Tabele testare SPSS) Correlations Parlamentul Scor sumativ României Parlamentul Pearson 1 .843** României Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1161 1092 Scor sumativ Pearson .843** 1 Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1092

Scor sumativ Primăria

Scor sumativ Pearson 1 .665** Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1092 Primăria Pearson .665** 1 Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1181

Guvernul Scor sumativ României Scor sumativ Pearson 1 .808** Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1092 Guvernul Pearson .808** 1 României Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1176

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Correlations Parlamentul Scor sumativ României Parlamentul Pearson 1 .843** României Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1161 1092 Scor sumativ Pearson .843** 1 Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1092

Scor sumativ Primăria

Scor sumativ Pearson 1 .665** Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1092 Primăria Pearson .665** 1 Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1181

Parlamentul Scor sumativ European Scor sumativ Pearson 1 .800** Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1092 Parlamentul Pearson .800** 1 European Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1092 1106

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Case Processing Summary N% Cases Valid 1092 88.9

Excluded 137 11.1

Total 1229 100.0

Reliability Statistics

Cronbach's N of Items Alpha .778 4

Item-Total Statistics Corrected Cronbach's Scale Mean if Scale Variance Item-Total Alpha if Item Item Deleted if Item Deleted Correlation Deleted Parlamentul României 6.90 3.428 .704 .663

Guvernul României 6.76 3.709 .663 .691

Primăria 6.78 4.135 .439 .792

Parlamentul European 7.47 3.180 .569 .744

Descriptive Statistics

N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation Parlamentul României 1161 0 3 2.39 .767

Guvernul României 1176 0 3 2.54 .697

Primăria 1181 0 3 2.51 .735

Parlamentul European 1106 0 3 1.82 .945

Valid N (listwise) 1092

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Correlations

Ştiri TV Medie

Ştiri TV Pearson 1 .725** Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1218 1163 Medie Pearson .725** 1 Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1163 1163

Medie Ştiri radio

Medie Pearson 1 .779** Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1163 1163 Ştiri radio Pearson .779** 1 Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1163 1187

Medie Ştiri ziare

Medie Pearson 1 .865** Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1163 1163 Ştiri ziare Pearson .865** 1 Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 1163 1188

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Case Processing Summary N% Cases Valid 1163 94.6

Excluded 66 5.4

Total 1229 100.0

Reliability Statistics

Cronbach's N of Items Alpha .796 4

Item-Total Statistics Corrected Cronbach's Scale Mean if Scale Variance Item-Total Alpha if Item Item Deleted if Item Deleted Correlation Deleted Ştiri TV 8.90 18.614 .569 .770

Ştiri radio 9.94 15.706 .580 .759

Ştiri ziare 10.04 13.988 .724 .682

Ştiri internet 9.68 15.413 .585 .758

Descriptive Statistics

N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation Ştiri TV 1218 0 5 3.97 1.272

Ştiri radio 1187 0 5 2.94 1.713

Ştiri ziare 1188 0 5 2.81 1.750

Ştiri internet 1189 0 5 3.18 1.757

Valid N (listwise) 1163

62 PROCESUL DE INSTRUIRE A OPERATORILOR DE CALCULATOR AI BIROURILOR ELECTORALE ALE SECŢIILOR DE VOTARE DIN MUNICIPIUL BUCUREŞTI

Nicoleta GRIGORE Directorul Filialei Bucureşti‒Ilfov

Dr. Octavian Mircea CHESARU Expert parlamentar – Filiala Bucureşti‒Ilfov

Abstract: Abstract:

Programul Autorităţii Electorale The programme initiated by the Permanente de informatizare a secţiilor Permanent Electoral Authority for the de votare presupune, într-o primă fază, computerisation of the polling stations recrutarea şi instruirea operatorilor de implies, fi rst, the enlistment and training calculator. Filiala Bucureşti‒Ilfov a AEP of the computer operators. The Permanent desfăşoară aceste acţiuni pentru secţiile Electoral Authority branch in Bucharest and de votare din municipiul Bucureşti, iar Ilfov organizes these actions for the polling experienţa sesiunilor de instruire a indicat stations in Bucharest, and the experience cele mai importante aspecte tehnice şi of these training sessions showed the most legislative care trebuie detaliate de instruc- important technical and legislative aspects tori pentru a oferi o pregătire cât mai bună a that have to be elaborated by the instructors viitorilor operatori. in order to provide the best training for the De asemenea, informaţiile cumulate future computer operators. până la data de 1 martie 2016, în urma Likewise, the information gathered up to înregistrării cererilor şi a desfăşurării sesi- March 1, 2016, after registering the applications unilor de examinare şi de instruire, permit and after the sessions for examining and formularea unor concluzii privind percepţia training, allows us to draw some conclusions on faţă de SIMPV şi gradul de implicare a how SIMPV is perceived and on how involved is societăţii româneşti în acest proiect. the Romanian society in this project.

Cuvinte-cheie: operator de calculator, Keywords: computer operator, com- informatizare, clivaj digital, instruire tehnică puterisation, digital split, technical and şi legislativă legis lative training

Sistemul informatic de monitorizare a Pentru a recruta cei 1.495 de operatori prezenţei la vot şi de prevenire a votului ilegal de calculator necesari pentru secţiile de votare (SIMPV) reprezintă un proiect inovativ de din municipiul Bucureşti, procesul de selecţie dematerializare (de informatizare) a proce- şi de instruire a acestora a fost demarat din sului electoral pe care Autoritatea Electorală luna ianuarie 2016, iar experienţa acumulată Permanentă îl implementează cu sprijinul de reprezentanţii AEP în urma sesiunilor Serviciului de Telecomunicaţii Speciale şi al de examinare şi de instruire organizate în Institutului Naţional de Statistică. Bucureşti a permis optimizarea discursului

63 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016 de instruire, precum şi identifi carea unor instruite benefi ciază de posibilitatea parti- tipare cantitative recurente. cipării la o sesiune de seară. Prin aceasta, reprezentanţii Filialei Bucureşti–Ilfov se Procesul de recrutare a opera- asigură că toate persoanele care înaintează torilor de calculator cereri au posibilitatea de a fi evaluate şi Persoanele care îndeplinesc condiţiile instruite. legale pentru a deveni operatori de calculator, ă ş ăţ Partea introductiv a sesiu- i anume: sunt cet eni români, cu domiciliul ş în România, au vârsta de minimum 18 ani nilor i procesul de examinare împliniţi şi capacitate deplină de exerciţiu, au Sesiunile de examinare şi de instruire absolvit învăţământul general obligatoriu şi sunt deschise de un reprezentant al AEP, care au cunoştinţe de bază în domeniul tehnologiei familiarizează cursanţii cu obiectivele SIMPV. informaţiei, pot depune cereri direct sau În cadrul acestei etape se preîntâmpină o prin poştă, la sediul Filialei Bucureşti–Ilfov întrebare recurentă la primele sesiuni de a AEP, precum şi la prefect şi primari, care instruire, şi anume dacă SIMPV are rolul redirecţionează cererile către AEP. de a împiedica alegătorii să voteze. Astfel, Din analiza cererilor înaintate se pot reprezentatul AEP subliniază că obiectivele face o serie de aprecieri statistice care relevă sistemului sunt de a verifi ca îndeplinirea interesul societăţii faţă de proiect. În primul condiţiilor legale pentru exercitarea dreptului rând, observăm că aproximativ 54% dintre la vot, monitorizarea în timp real a prezenţei persoanele care au înaintat cereri sunt femei. la vot, precum şi prevenirea votului ilegal. Diferenţa redusă ca număr dintre cererile Odată familiarizaţi cu obiectivele înaintate de persoanele de sex masculin şi cele SIMPV, cursanţilor li se explică procedurile înaintate de persoanele de sex feminin indică de examinare, instruire şi desemnare, expe- o viziune societală care nu plasează această rienţa arătând că toate informaţiile furnizate activitate ca fi ind rezervată în exclusivitate sunt sufi ciente pentru a demara sesiunea de uneia dintre aceste categorii. examinare practică dirijată de reprezentantul De asemenea, se observă un interes STS. crescut al tinerilor faţă de procesele electorale, Sesiunea de examinare vizează eva- aproximativ 40% dintre cereri fi ind înaintate lua rea unor competenţe digitale minimale, de persoane născute după 1990. Programele precum operarea de bază a unui terminal de educare şi de informare desfăşurate de (de tip tabletă), utilizarea unui browser de AEP în ultimii ani au avut tendinţa de a res- internet, completarea corectă a unui formular ponsabiliza noile generaţii, mobilizând tinerii digital în vederea generării unui cont pe pentru a lua parte activă la procesul electoral. platforma de e-learning ILIAS şi verifi carea Semnatarii cererilor sunt contactaţi curierului de intrări al căsuţei personale de de reprezentanţii AEP în vederea convocării e-mail. acestora la sesiunile de examinare şi de Examinarea este considerată a fi de o instru ire desfăşurate în parteneriat cu STS. difi cultate redusă, garantând că persoanele Sesiunile de examinare sunt stabilite cu o admise la instruirea tehnică şi legislativă pot săptămână înainte, practica specifi că pentru deprinde rapid abilitatea de a opera în Apli- municipiul Bucureşti fi ind de a organiza câte caţia Informatică pentru Verifi carea Drep- două sesiuni într-o zi de instruire, de la orele tului de Vot (ADV). Procentul de candidaţi 10,00 şi 13,00. Cu toate acestea, dovedind respinşi este unul redus (aproximativ 3,6% fl exibilitate faţă de solicitările persoanelor din numărul persoanelor convocate). care au înaintat cereri, sunt organizate şi De asemenea, clivajul digital dintre sesiuni de instruire începând cu ora 18,00 sau generaţii se face remarcat în cazul celor chiar în weekend. respinşi, aproximativ 87% dintre aceştia fi ind Astfel, persoanele care nu pot lipsi trecuţi de vârsta de 40 de ani, iar aproximativ de la locul de muncă pentru a fi evaluate şi 57% fi ind trecuţi de vârsta de 50 de ani.

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Cu toate acestea, faptul că aproximativ că, indiferent de mesajul returnat de ADV 72% dintre persoanele care au înaintat cereri după verifi carea unui alegător, gestul opera- pentru a fi desemnate operatori de calculator torului trebuie să fi e acelaşi, şi anume să au menţionat că folosesc calculatorul în predea, de îndată, actul de identitate pre- cadrul ocupaţiei pe care o au e un indiciu că şedintelui biroului electoral al secţiei de acest clivaj va fi treptat surmontat. votare sau unui membru desemnat să-l asiste şi să comunice mesajul, fără a-l interpreta. Sesiunea de instruire De asemenea, este expusă şi relaţia de subor- Candidaţii declaraţi admişi parti- donare a operatorului de calculator faţă de cipă, în continuare, la o sesiune de instruire preşedintele biroului electoral al secţiei de realizată de reprezentanţii AEP şi STS. votare, acesta din urmă fi ind singura persoană Experienţa instruirilor a ajutat la optimizarea abilitată să ia decizii privind procesul de vot discursului instructorilor, aspectele legislative din respectiva secţie de votare. şi aspectele tehnice fi ind expuse secvenţial, În aceeaşi ordine de idei, pentru că în mai multe etape. foarte mulţi cursanţi au ridicat întrebări Sesiunea de instruire este deschisă privind rolul lor şi al SIMPV, sunt subliniate de către un reprezentant al AEP, care importanţa legală a sistemului şi circuitul îi informează pe cursanţi cu privire la actului de identitate în secţie. Reprezentantul verifi cările care trebuie parcurse în preziua AEP precizează că SIMPV nu este un proiect votării, la ora 18,00, precum şi în dimineaţa experimental utilizat în câteva secţii de votare, zilei de referinţă, la ora 6,00. aşa cum îl considerau unii dintre cursanţi. Reprezentantul STS prezintă, apoi, Din contră, cursanţii afl ă că, potrivit art. 85 pro cesele de instalare a terminalului, de alin. (2) al Legii nr. 115/2015, toate secţiile conectare la o sursă de internet, de autentifi - de votare vor avea un operator de calculator care în ADV şi de verifi care a conformităţii şi niciun alegător nu-şi poate exercita dreptul terminalului cu secţia de votare. Cursanţilor de vot fără a fi înscris în SIMPV de către li se aduc la cunoştinţă paşii de urmat în cazul operator. apariţiei unor probleme, astfel încât sistemul După aceste precizări deosebit de să fi e funcţional la ora deschiderii urnelor. importante, reprezentantul STS prezintă pro- Înainte de a vedea cum operează cedurile de introducere şi de verifi care în efectiv ADV, reprezentantul AEP enumeră ADV ale datelor alegătorilor. Recurenţa unor atribuţiile pe care operatorii de calculator le întrebări din partea cursanţilor a impus ca au potrivit Legii nr. 115/2015 pentru alegerea reprezentanţii AEP să intervină cu precizări autorităţilor administraţiei publice locale, privind dreptul de vot al cetăţenilor din pentru modifi carea Legii administraţiei celelalte state membre ale Uniunii Europene publice locale nr. 215/2001, precum şi pentru sau privind procedurile legate de urna modifi carea şi completarea Legii nr. 393/ specială. 2004 privind Statutul aleşilor locali şi În ultima parte a instruirii, reprezen- Hotărârii AEP nr. 9/2015 pentru aprobarea tanţii AEP şi ai STS descriu procedurile de normelor metodologice privind funcţionarea urmat în caz de disfuncţionalitate a sistemu- Sistemului informatic de monitorizare a lui şi subliniază importanţa delogării din pre zenţei la vot şi de prevenire a votului aplicaţie de fi ecare dată când operatorul de ilegal, selecţia şi desemnarea operatorilor calculator lasă terminalul nesupravegheat. de calculator ai birourilor electorale ale Se subliniază, de asemenea, faptul că în secţiilor de votare. situaţie de disfuncţionalitate nu vor fi între- Pentru desfăşurarea procesului elec- rupte nici procesul de vot şi nici procesul de toral în cele mai bune condiţii, se subliniază introducere a datelor în ADV.

65 CALL FOR PAPERS ELECTORAL EXPERT REVIEW

The Electoral Expert Review, published by the Permanent Electoral Authority, invites stakeholders and those interested to contribute in publishing scientifi c articles related to the electoral fi eld and to areas such as: human rights, political science, legal and administrative domain. Regarding the next edition of the Electoral Expert Review, the editorial board welcomes articles with interdisciplinary character that have not been or are not published in other journals, reviews or scientifi c symposium volumes. The authors may submit proposals for articles directly to the following address: expert. [email protected] The Electoral Expert Review is a quarterly publication of studies, researches and analyses related to the elections fi eld. The editorial project Electoral Expert Review appears in a European context in which articles and scientifi c research aimed at various aspects of national and European electoral processes are increasing in the last two decades, but it appears a small number of academic magazines and journals assemble them in a publication focused on the electoral fi eld. With an interdisciplinary and applied character, fi rstly the publication aims at a wide audience, this being ensured by distributing our journal to the Romanian Parliament, the Government and other institutions from the central and local government, to the most important public libraries, universities, the media, other academic institutions and NGOs. Secondly, the Electoral Expert Review can be found in electronic format in Romanian; this will be completed by one translated into English, giving it an international character. The issues from 2016 of Electoral Expert Review will be published with the following general topics: electoral reform, political fi nancing, electoral system, voting methods, gender and elections, etc. (deadline for submitting the articles: 30th of June 2016).

Indications and text formatting requirements:  Submitted articles may cover theoretical studies, case studies or researches that have not been published or submitted for other publications or part of the proceedings of scientifi c conferences. Submitted articles should be original.  We recommend that submitted articles should be between 4,000 and 6,000 words in length (bibliography and footnotes included).  Manuscripts must be accompanied by an abstract. The abstract must have between 100 and 150 words (Times New Roman, 12, italic). After each abstract the author must mention the keywords. We recommend that the articles submitted should be accompanied by a brief presentation of the author/authors (name, institutional or/and academic affi liation, brief research activity and published papers, e-mail address).  The preferred working language of Electoral Expert Review is English.  Main text of the manuscript: Times New Roman, 12, justifi ed, 1.5 line spacing options. Page setup: A4 with 2.5 cm margins. Titles: Times New Roman, 14, bold. Subtitles: Times New Roman, 12, bold. Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10, justifi ed.  All fi gures, tables and photos must be clear and sharp. The tables should be numbered consecutively in Arabic numbers. The number and the title of each table should be written above it, using Times New Roman, 12, bold. The number and the title of each fi gure or photo should be written under it, using Times New Roman, 10, bold.  Abbreviations and acronyms will be explained the fi rst time they appear in the text.

66 Expert electoral nr. 1/2016

 Quotations and references should be made using the Harvard or European system (only one of them will be used in the manuscript).  Internet references should be quoted with the whole link and the date in which it was accessed.

For additional information you can contact us at: [email protected]

67 CALL FOR PAPERS REVISTA „EXPERT ELECTORAL”

Revista „Expert Electoral”, editată de Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă, primeşte spre publicare articole ştiinţifi ce ce tratează teme din domeniul electoral, precum şi din domenii conexe, cum ar fi : drepturile omului, ştiinţe politice, ştiinţe juridice şi administrative, adică articole cu caracter interdisciplinar şi care nu au fost sau nu urmează a fi valorifi cate prin publicare în alte reviste sau volume ale unor simpozioane ştiinţifi ce. Având în vedere necesitatea unei dezbateri publice reale pe tema îmbunătăţirii şi un i- formizării legislaţiei electorale, intenţionăm ca în următoarele numere ale publicaţiei să abordăm subiecte precum: reforma electorală, fi nanţarea partidelor politice şi a campaniilor electorale, sisteme electorale, metode de vot, gen şi alegeri etc. Autorii pot transmite propunerile de articole pentru nr. 2(14)/2016 al revistei „Expert Electoral” la adresa de e-mail: [email protected]. Termen limită de comunicare a lucrărilor: 30 iunie 2016. Revista „Expert Electoral” este o publicaţie trimestrială de studii, cercetări şi analize cu tematică electorală. Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă a iniţiat editarea acestei reviste cu scopul de a crea o platformă de dezbatere a subiectelor referitoare la reglementarea şi administrarea proceselor electorale.

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