Parliamentary Elections 2002 Assistance

2002 Parliamentary Election

The September parliamentary election was the focus of IFES assistance in 2002. In response to calls for early elections by some parties, IFES curtailed its efforts for comprehensive electoral reform to focus instead on more limited legislative changes and election preparations.  It aimed to improve the legal framework for elections, increase the capacity of election administration agencies and conduct voter education activities.  This involved working with the State Election Commission and the Ministry of Justice, training poll workers and conducting voter education and information activities. 

Post-conflict/ Pre-election Assessment

In preparation for these activities, IFES conducted a two-phase pre-election assessment to identify how the political and electoral environment had changed in Macedonia since the 2000 local elections and the eruption of ethnic hostilities in 2001.  The first phase focused on information needs of the electorate.  The second phase was dedicated to technical and operational aspects of organizing an election within the context of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and given realities on the ground.  The assessment team found that while the conflict had intensified pre-existing voter information needs and operational challenges these issues could be addressed through a protracted and graduated voter education effort, and the introduction of new operational processes and procedures.

Election Law Reform
As a member of the MOJ Working Group on Electoral Reform, IFES provided analyses of proposed amendments to three election laws adopted by Parliament in June 2002, made specific recommendations for improvements to the laws, and provided and distributed English translations of draft laws and amendments.

Voter Education and Information
Through collaborative efforts with the SEC and MOJ, IFES pursued a vigorous, multi-media voter education campaign to inform voters of their rights and obligations with respect to voter registration and the Voters' List and familiarize citizens with the new election law and its effect on the election process. The program utilized state and private television in order to reach citizens outside the capital. It provided public education on voter rights and responsibilities, as well as the election process itself, under the new law. Select messages and products were targeted at groups with special needs, such as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and communities affected by the 2001 conflict.

Training of Election Officials

Training was provided to a core group of 44 local trainers who in turn trained the Electoral Board (EB) members on the relevant articles of the new Law on the Election of MPs.  The heart of the training program was the EB training manual, supplemented by an EB training video for officials who could not attend formal training in their municipality.  The training program designed for MEC members was abandoned due to the compressed timeline of the election calendar and because the SEC did not fully support the idea of MEC training.  Ultimately, more than 17,000 EB members and deputies were trained. The manual was developed by IFES and the SEC and was widely distributed through training sessions and other vehicles. It was in very high demand by both EB and MEC members.

Election Operations

IFES provided considerable institutional support to the SEC in terms of staff, advising, and commodities. The IFES Election Operations Specialist served as an advisor to the SEC on day-to-day operational issues and election-specific challenges. This activity was closely coordinated with IFES Ltd., which received support from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to identify, train and deploy 41 liaisons to support SEC in communications and logistics with the lower level election commissions. This assistance was complemented by the procurement and distribution of standardized election materials to all polling stations with funding from the European Agency for Reconstruction.

IFES had a significant role in coordinating international election assistance by hosting regular meetings with more than a dozen assistance providers in order to discuss various election related issues and exchange information.