The Empty Quarter

One of the demands of the opposition JMP that lead to their threatened boycott (and which will now most likely be part of the negotiations following the recent election postponement) was incomplete voter rolls. The reason the rolls were incomplete, was because the opposition coalition, the JMP, boycotted the registration process because they had disagreements with the makeup of the Supreme Coucil for Elections and Referendum (SCER).

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), together with a Yemeni election monitoring agency, has now released a report which validates at least part of their complaint - that the registration process was flawed.

I have mixed feelings about these kinds of reports. For one, this report says nothing about the initial complaint over SCER. Why not? I don’t see what is difficult about taking a position on whether the makeup of SCER is “free and fair”…or “Open and Genuine.” I acknowledge the benefit of observation missions for elections and electoral procedures. Unfortunately though, election certifications often lack historical perspective. It is a good thing that NDI realizes that democracy is not just elections. It is positive that they are looking at the process - unfortunately, they’re passing judgement on the wrong part. The easy part.

It is not really controversial to say that the registration was flawed - the opposition didn’t participate. The outcome of the report is predictable. The report that needs to be written is one concerning the politics of SCER. How can organizations like NDI or the EU be comfortable judging whether an election is free or open - but not be comfortable passing judgment on the fairness of the composition of a basic agency electoral agency like SCER? I realize that a lot of NDI’s work happens behind the scenes, and that ruffling feathers publicly can detract from that progress…but I still get frustrated. 

Curious that this came out March 3rd, just days after the announced election postponement. Actually, not so much. What I really wonder is what would have happened had the GPC continued with elections.

You can get the report from the NDI website here - make your own judgement.

NDI and YEMN release report on voter registration process

Posted in: Local News
Written By: Observer Staff
Article Date: Mar 7, 2009

The process of voter registration carried out, November 2008 was technically sound, but fundamentally undermined by a lack of universal participation, resulting from a political disagreement between the ruling General People’s Congress (GPC) party and the opposition coalition of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP).

The disclosure came in a press release issued by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and the Yemen Elections Monitoring Network (YEMN) on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. The joint report was the final report on observations of the November 2008 voter registration process.  

The final report detailed observations of the November 2008 voter registration process. The report indicates a lack of accord among the parties which sought to cast doubt from the onset about the impartiality and independence of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referenda (SCER) given the process by which it was established and the composition of its members.

The report focuses on the political environment surrounding the registration period, a technical review of the registration processes, the challenges identified by domestic observers and recommendations for building confidence in the voter registration process.  Although the report was drafted prior to discussions and an accord between the General People’s Conference and the Joint Meeting Parties, the recommendations remain relevant to the broader electoral reform package being discussed.

“The proposed recommendations are consistent with suggestions made by the NDI as a result of previous observation mission analyses,” said Heather Therrien, Country Director for NDI in Yemen. “We hope this document serves as a tool for all stakeholders in the larger discussion on electoral reforms.”

The NDI and the YEMN conducted a joint observer mission to monitor the voter registration process, fielding 327 volunteer monitors across 13 governorates throughout the 15-day registration period. The observation mission sought to provide an accurate and objective assessment of Yemen’s 2008 voter registration process; ensure the rights of eligible voters to register or change their voting domicile; and build public confidence in electoral and democratic processes in advance of the parliamentary elections.

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide.  Since its founding in 1983, the NDI and its local partners have worked to establish and advance democratic institutions and practices by building political and civic organizations, safeguarding elections, and promoting citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.