A Framework for the A Framework for the Study of Election Study of Election

Management QualityManagement Quality

Professor, Dr Jørgen Elklit, Professor, Dr Jørgen Elklit, Denmark, Denmark,

Conference on Conference on the ”Measuring Democracy”-projectthe ”Measuring Democracy”-project

Boston, 23-24 May 2009Boston, 23-24 May 2009

The Electoral ProcessThe Electoral Process

The Elklit/Reynolds Framework for Assessing The Elklit/Reynolds Framework for Assessing Election and Election Management Quality Election and Election Management Quality

((DemocatizationDemocatization, 2005; IPU, 2005):, 2005; IPU, 2005): 54 different indicators are used to assess 54 different indicators are used to assess

performance quality in the 11 steps of the electoral performance quality in the 11 steps of the electoral process by a panel of domestic and foreign expert process by a panel of domestic and foreign expert assessors.assessors.

Measurement results for each step is weighted Measurement results for each step is weighted according to perceived importance for established according to perceived importance for established and fledgling democracies, respectivelyand fledgling democracies, respectively

Results are published, so that they can be Results are published, so that they can be scrutinized and discussed by others (for scrutinized and discussed by others (for transparency’s sake and to reduce measurement transparency’s sake and to reduce measurement errors)errors)

Mistakes are corrected and results re-calculated Mistakes are corrected and results re-calculated before final publicationbefore final publication

22 April 202322 April 2023

1. Legal framework1. Legal frameworkPerformance Performance indicatorsindicators

How to How to measure?measure?

GHA GHA 20082008

KEN KEN 20072007

LES LES 200200

77

ZIM ZIM 20022002

1. Consolidated legal 1. Consolidated legal foundation easily foundation easily available?available?

Expert panel Expert panel assessmentassessmentss

22 11 22 11

2. Comprehensive 2. Comprehensive electoral timetable electoral timetable available?available?

DoDo 22 22 33 11

3. Elections held without 3. Elections held without extra-legislative delay?extra-legislative delay?

DoDo 33 33 33 33

4. Can the electoral 4. Can the electoral legislation be legislation be implemented?implemented?

DoDo 22 22 33 11

5. Electoral framework 5. Electoral framework generally cons. generally cons. legitimate?legitimate?

Do + Do + possibly possibly surveyssurveys

33 22 33 11

Intermediary step Intermediary step scoresscores

8.08.0 6.76.7 9.39.3 4.74.7

2. Electoral management2. Electoral managementPerformance Performance indicatorsindicators

How to How to measure?measure?

GHA GHA 200200

88

KEN KEN 20072007

LES LES 20020077

Zim Zim 20022002

1. Perceived degree of 1. Perceived degree of EMB legitimacy?EMB legitimacy?

Polling Polling evidence for evidence for perceptionsperceptions

22 11 22 11

2. Perceived degree of 2. Perceived degree of EMB impartiality?EMB impartiality?

Expert panel Expert panel for de jure for de jure and de facto and de facto analysis analysis

22 11 22 00

3. Perceived degree of 3. Perceived degree of quality in EMB service quality in EMB service delivery?delivery?

Stakeholder Stakeholder surveyssurveys

22 11 22 11

4. Perceived degree of 4. Perceived degree of EBM transparency?EBM transparency?

DoDo 22 22 11 00

Intermediary step Intermediary step scoresscores

6.76.7 4.24.2 5.85.8 1.71.7

3. Constituency and polling 3. Constituency and polling district demarcationdistrict demarcation

Performance indicatorsPerformance indicators How to How to measure?measure?

GHA GHA 20020088

KEN KEN 20020077

LES LES 20020077

Zim Zim 20022002

1. Constituency structure 1. Constituency structure reasonable and broadly reasonable and broadly accepted?accepted?

Expert Expert panel + panel + stakeholder stakeholder surveyssurveys

33 11 33 22

2. Information about 2. Information about constitu-encies and lower constitu-encies and lower level districts level districts (demarcation, sizes, (demarcation, sizes, seats) easily available?seats) easily available?

dodo 33 33 33 22

3. Fair system, for 3. Fair system, for boundary delimitation and boundary delimitation and seat allocation in place?seat allocation in place?

dodo 22 00 33 22

Intermediary step Intermediary step scoresscores

8.98.9 4.44.4 10.010.0 6.76.7

4. Voter education4. Voter educationPerformance Performance indicatorsindicators

How to How to measure?measure?

GHA GHA 20082008

KEN KEN

20020077

LES LES 20020077

Zim Zim 20022002

1. Voter education to 1. Voter education to voters in need of voters in need of education?education?

””In need” is In need” is operationalizeoperationalized as first time d as first time votersvoters

22 22 22 11

2. ”At risk” groups with 2. ”At risk” groups with needs identified and needs identified and needs addressed?needs addressed?

””At risk” is At risk” is historically historically marginalized marginalized groupsgroups

33 22 33 11

3. Percentage of ballots 3. Percentage of ballots valid?valid?

Outreach Outreach assessed assessed through through surveyssurveys

22 22 22 22

4.Turnout among first 4.Turnout among first time voters, in terms of time voters, in terms of VAP?VAP?

Register and Register and polling data polling data

22 22 11 22

Intermediary step Intermediary step scoresscores

7.57.5 6.76.7 6.76.7 5.05.0

22 April 202322 April 2023

22 April 202322 April 2023

22 April 202322 April 2023

22 April 202322 April 2023

22 April 202322 April 2023

9. Counting and tabulating the vote9. Counting and tabulating the votePerformance Performance indicatorsindicators

How to How to measure?measure?

GHA GHA 20082008

KEN KEN 20072007

LES LES 200200

77

Zim Zim 20022002

1. Is the count 1. Is the count conducted with integrity conducted with integrity and accuracy?and accuracy?

Expert panel Expert panel assessmentassessments + obs. s + obs. reportsreports

22 11 33 11

2. Is the tabulation 2. Is the tabulation trans-parent, reflecting trans-parent, reflecting accurately the polling accurately the polling booth count?booth count?

DoDo 22 11 33 00

3. Are the results easily 3. Are the results easily available to interested available to interested members of the public?members of the public?

DoDo 33 11 33 11

4. Does counting take 4. Does counting take place with no undue place with no undue delay?delay?

DoDo 33 22 33 33

5. Parties and 5. Parties and candidates allowed to candidates allowed to obs. the count?obs. the count?

Do + Do + possibly possibly surveyssurveys

33 33 33 00

Intermediary step Intermediary step scoresscores

8.78.7 5.35.3 10.010.0 3.33.3

Is it OK to allocate Is it OK to allocate different weigths to different weigths to different steps? And to do different steps? And to do it differently to different it differently to different categories of political categories of political regimes?regimes?

3: Essential factors (necessary?) 3: Essential factors (necessary?)

2. Important factors2. Important factors1. Desirable factors1. Desirable factors

Thank your Thank your for your attention for your attention (– and patience)!(– and patience)!