There is need to mitigate conflict and suspicions around the ballot paper by ensuring transparency in ballot paper designing and printing through engagement of electoral stakeholders. It is also critical that the implementation of postal voting abides by the principles of free choice and secrecy of the vote contained in the Constitution and the Electoral Law. Special voting, amenable to transparent electoral principles and observation must be reinstated to guarantee the right to vote to those unable to vote on Election Day.
The observation of electoral processes must be made easier by removing accreditation fees and the requirement for applicants to physical present themselves in person at accreditation centres in line with international best practice.
Polling stations added in the run-up to elections must be widely publicised to ensure they are known by relevant stakeholders, and to reduce suspicions.
Election administration must conform to open data principles. ZEC must adopt an effective communications strategy to ensure that it gets and sustains confidence of its stakeholders.
ZEC must publish audit reports on expenditure on elections administration.[/su_list]
Assessment:
Assessment for the 2023 election cycle is ongoing. Currently there is no movement on the election administration issues listed above. During the COVID -19 pandemic the ZEC had responded commendably by developing a COVID-19 Policy to guide the work of ZEC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately the Policy was not put to the test as the Government, through the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare suspended by-elections indefinitely through the use of Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020.
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