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2007 Assessment

Vanuatu: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Vanuatu: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Election Integrity
Indicators		Score
17	In law, is there an election monitoring agency or set of election monitoring agencies/entities?	100
18	Is the election monitoring agency effective?	70
19	Are elections systems transparent and effective?	92

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

In law, is there an election monitoring agency or set of election monitoring agencies/entities?

17: In law, is there an election monitoring agency or set of election monitoring agencies/entities?

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Election Monitoring Agency: The Electoral Commission (Vanuatu Constitution, Article 20(1)) www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

Is the election monitoring agency effective?

18a: In law, the agency or set of agencies/entities is protected from political interference.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution, Article 18 .(1) & (2), 19, 20 (1), (2) & (3) www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

18b: In practice, agency (or set of agencies/entities) appointments are made that support the independence of the agency.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Electoral Office (Government Department) Lae Sakita from Vango Office (NGO)

Peer Review Comments: The TI National Integrity Systems Country Report 2004 found that: The independence and/or integrity of the Electoral Commission is potentially jeopardized in two main ways. First, the Ministry of Internal Affairs controls the budget of the Electoral Commission, so it does not have financial independence. Second, the Principal Electoral Officer and other electoral officers are appointed by the Public Service Commission, and not by the Electoral Commission. Although the Public Service Commission is meant to appoint civil servants based upon merit, this has not always been the case in the past. Lack of resources affects morale. So too does the fact that currently everyone within the Electoral Office is appointed as an acting officer. This low morale may also affect the integrity of the Electoral Commission.

18c: In practice, the agency or set of agencies/entities has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannesah Transparency International National Integrity Systems Country Report 2004

18d: In practice, the agency or set of agencies/entities makes timely, publicly available reports following an election cycle.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannesah Electoral Office Representative

18e: In practice, when necessary, the agency or set of agencies/entities imposes penalties on offenders.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannesah Electoral Office

Peer Review Comments: The issue is one of resources, does the agency have the resources to do this? The NIS report says it is under-resourced, and is not able to keep accurate electoral rolls.

Peer Review Comments: Voters who have not been correctly registered on the electoral roll and voters who are "deceased" are occasionally allowed to "vote" (for the deceased by proxy). The electoral commission does not always penalize offenders responsible for such irregularities.

Are elections systems transparent and effective?

19a: In practice, there is a clear and transparent system of voter registration.

Score:

100

Comments: Kierry says, "Sometimes double registration can occur."

References: Electoral Office Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannesah

Peer Review Comments: In more recent elections, there have been improvements made in voter registration in order to stop multiple registration and voting.

19b: In law, election results can be contested through the judicial system.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution, Article 54 - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

19c: In practice, election results can be effectively appealed through the judicial system.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Electoral Office Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannesah

19d: In practice, the military and security forces remain neutral during elections.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Electoral Office Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannesah

19e: In law, domestic and international election observers are allowed to monitor elections.

Score:

YES

Comments: There are no specific laws, however Vanuatu does accept offers by international observers to observe election processes. Refer to 2002 IOG Report - www.iipe.org/conference2002/papers/Randell.pdf.

References: Constitution: Functions of Electoral Commission & Principle Electoral Officer - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

19f: In practice, election observers are able to effectively monitor elections.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: Election observers have unfettered access to polling sites, counting stations, and voters themselves. The government does not interfere with the observers\' activities. <p>50 Score Criteria: Election observers generally have access to polling sites, counting stations, and voters but encounter restrictions in certain areas. The government may impose burdensome regulatory or bureaucratic requirements on observers to discourage their involvement. <p>0 Score Criteria: Election observers\' movements are significantly limited by the government and many polling and counting sites are restricted or barred from observers. The government imposes so many bureaucratic or regulatory burdens on the observers that their mission is rendered ineffective.$

Comments:

References: Electoral Office Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannesah