Electoral Observation Nicaragua 1996 Secretary General César Gaviria Assistant Secretary General Christopher R. Thomas Executive Coordinator, Unit for the Promotion of Democracy Elizabeth M. Spehar This publication is part of a series of publications of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS). Opinions and statements expressed are not necessarily those of the OAS or its member states, and are entirely the responsibility of the parties expressing them. Electoral Observation Nicaragua 1996 Unit for the Promotion of Democracy This report was produced under the technical supervision of Dr. Oscar Alfredo Santamaría, General Coordinator of the Electoral Observation Mission to Nicaragua. Design and composition of this publication was done by the Information and Dialogue Section of the UPD, headed by Mr. John Murray. Betty Robinson and Judith Horvath-Rouco helped with the editorial review of this report, Jamel Espinoza and Gabriela Hageman with its production. Copyright @ 1997. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material is authorized; please credit it as “a publication of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States”. Table of contents Preface........................................................................................................................................... ix Executive summary.................................................................................................................... xiii PART I The Electoral Observation Mission..............................................................................................1 1. Origin and mandate of the Mission......................................................................................3 Objective of the Mission .....................................................................................................3 Terms of reference ...............................................................................................................4 2. Start and development of the Mission .................................................................................5 Structure of the Mission.......................................................................................................5 Territorial distribution..........................................................................................................6 PART II The pre-election situation..............................................................................................................9 1. Background........................................................................................................................11 Legal basis .........................................................................................................................11 National and international election monitoring .................................................................12 2. The political scenario.........................................................................................................12 Background........................................................................................................................13 Constitutional reform.........................................................................................................14 3. The election campaign .......................................................................................................15 Observation of publicity and advertising campaigns.........................................................15 Other factors influencing the election campaign ...............................................................16 4. The media...........................................................................................................................16 Election campaign..............................................................................................................17 5. Views of the political parties .............................................................................................17 6. Scenario in the departments...............................................................................................19 PART III Technical aspects of the election.................................................................................................21 1. General considerations.......................................................................................................23 2. The electoral register .........................................................................................................24 Verification of the preliminary register .............................................................................25 Publication of the register..................................................................................................25 Comparison of the register.................................................................................................26 Effects of the comparison ..................................................................................................27 Audit of the electoral register ............................................................................................27 3. Issuance of identity cards and distribution of voting documents.......................................28 Distribution of documents .................................................................................................29 4. Ad hoc registration.............................................................................................................31 Characteristics of the process ............................................................................................31 Voter registration drives ....................................................................................................32 Observation by the Mission ...............................................................................................32 5. Election logistics................................................................................................................33 Printing and distribution of election materials...................................................................33 Staffing of the polling stations...........................................................................................35 Election training.................................................................................................................36 Location of the polling stations .........................................................................................36 Civic education ..................................................................................................................37 PART IV Political aspects of the election ...................................................................................................39 1. Registration and screening of candidates...........................................................................41 2. Election campaign financing .............................................................................................42 Distribution procedures......................................................................................................43 Regulatory framework .......................................................................................................43 Problems ............................................................................................................................44 Distribution of funds..........................................................................................................45 vi PART V Election day ..................................................................................................................................47 1. Qualitative and quantitative observation ...........................................................................49 Objectives of the observation ............................................................................................49 Cooperation with the European Union ..............................................................................50 Participation of the Secretary General...............................................................................51 Managua operations center ................................................................................................51 Quick tally .........................................................................................................................52 2. Election day .......................................................................................................................53 Coverage by the Mission ...................................................................................................53 Problems ............................................................................................................................53 3. Vote count..........................................................................................................................55 Description of the process..................................................................................................56 Problems observed.............................................................................................................56 4. Transmittal of the results ...................................................................................................57 Problems observed.............................................................................................................58