enfranchising marginalized groups

Alok Shukla

Ref Batch
T
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
1
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Michael Scharff
Name
Alok Shukla
Interviewee's Position
Deputy Election Commissioner
Interviewee's Organization
Election Commission of India
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Indian
Town/City
New Delhi
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract
Alok Shukla discusses his work with the Election Commission of India. He talks about the importance of election safety and sheds light on the police deployment strategy that surrounds Indian elections. He opens his discussion with an explanation of the monitoring systems used to keep election violence to a minimum. He continues by speaking of other accountability measures like web-cameras with a direct line to the Election Commission placed in to polling stations in order to ensure proper practice. He then explains the system of vulnerability mapping in order to concentrate the most resources to the most vulnerable polling states. Shukla adds a detailed story about enfranchising communities that had been subject to voter intimidation. He concludes his discussion with the monitoring structures in place to ensure the impartiality of the Election Commission.
 
Profile

At the time of the interview,  Alok Shukla had served as a deputy election commissioner in the Election Commission of India for around two years. He had previously served as the chief electoral officer for the state of Chhattisgarh. 

Full Audio File Size
44 MB
Full Audio Title
Alok Shukla Interview

S.K. Mendiratta

Ref Batch
T
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
3
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Michael Scharff
Name
S.K. Mendiratta
Interviewee's Position
Legal Adviser
Interviewee's Organization
Election Commission of India
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Indian
Town/City
New Delhi
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract
S.K. Mendiratta speaks about his work with the Election Commission of India. He opens the discussion by describing the system of vulnerability mapping in order to determine the areas most prone to election violence and intimidation. This included finding areas that had unusually low turnout and providing them with police protection. He notes that known trouble makers are put under increased police monitoring during this time as well. In the second part of the interview, Mendiratta elaborates on the efforts of the Election Commission to curb voter intimidation. These included unique methods such as video monitoring at polls in order to ensure legal compliance. He concludes his discussion by adding detail on the accountability measures keeping watch of the Election Commission. Through focusing on the attitudes of outgoing opposition parties, they are able to determine the perceived fairness of the election.
 
Profile

At the time of the interview, S.K. Mendiratta was the legal advisor to the Election Commission of India. He began his career nearly 46 years earlier as an assistant in the Election Commission. Beginning in 1979, Mendiratta was responsible for all legal affairs of the commission, including electoral reform legislation and litigation work of the commission before the Supreme Court and High Courts in India. Although he had been retired for 13 years at the time of the interview, Mendiratta continued much of his work in an advisory position. 

Full Audio File Size
74 MB
Full Audio Title
S.K. Mendiratta Interview

Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury

Ref Batch
J
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
4
Critical Tasks
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Varanya Chaubey
Name
Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury
Interviewee's Position
Project Director for Voter List Project
Interviewee's Organization
Bangladesh Election Commission
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Bangladesh
Town/City
Dhaka
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury explains the process by which the Bangladesh Army created an electronic voter registration process and electronic electoral roll with photographs. The Electoral Commission chose the Army for this task out of various national and international organizations who submitted offers. He describes several capabilities that the Army brought to the task, including several officers with information technology (IT) skills and the ability, with the Navy and Coast Guard, to reach geographically remote communities. One challenge he identifies was finding and training staff with the necessary IT skills and acquiring the necessary technological resources, such as laptops, cameras, and finger print scanners. To address this need within a short time frame, he explains that the army sought out a number of vendors and occasionally accepted assistance from United Nations Development Project (UNDP). Chowdhury describes how the Army developed software to collect the voters’ information and identify multiple registrations by maintaining the registry. He explains the verification processes for the voter registry, including local government authentication of data and review by the Department for International Development (DFID) and UNDP.    

Profile

At the time of this interview Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury was serving as the project director for the Election Commission’s voter list project. The project, formally known as the Preparation of Electoral Roll with Photographs, began in 2007. He came to this position as a Brigadier General in the Bangladesh Army. 

Full Audio File Size
43 MB
Full Audio Title
Shahadat Chowdhury Interview

Senesee Geso Freeman

Ref Batch
D
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
5
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Nealin Parker
Name
Senesee Geso Freeman
Interviewee's Position
Program Officer
Interviewee's Organization
IFES
Language
English
Town/City
Monrovia
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract
In this interview, Senesee Freeman discusses the role that the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) played in the 2005 Liberian Elections. IFES supported the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia in rewriting portions of the country’s electoral laws, determining the budget for the elections, registering voters and demarcating voting districts. IFES aimed to increase civic participation of traditionally marginalized populations, such as women and the disabled, by tailoring messages and educational materials for these specific groups and using members of these groups to disseminate them. Freeman emphasizes the importance of tailoring educational materials in all scenarios; materials should be translated to local dialects or languages and elicit the involvement of respected locals, particularly those in prominent positions like town criers. IFES aimed not only to encourage increased participation through these means, but also to encourage individuals to vote according to their consciences rather than succumb to the temptation of voting for candidates who aim to buy votes by providing individuals with material incentives. Freeman also points out that the timing of the elections, at the peak of the rainy season, introduces a number of logistical issues. He concludes by suggesting that resources be constantly and incrementally set aside for the purpose of elections, rather than the country relying on massive international support directly before an election. 
 
Profile

 At the time of this interview, Senesee Freeman was a Program Officer for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Liberia. Freeman studied at the University of Liberia and proceeded to work in local Liberia-based development agencies, including the New African Research and Development Agency (NARDA), where he worked to facilitate the capacity building of local non-governmental organizations. He later worked with Synergies International; where he aimed to assist marginalized populations, including ex-combatants, reintegrate themselves into Liberian society.  

Full Audio File Size
77 MB
Full Audio Title
Senesee Freeman - Full Interview

Khalfan H. Khalfan

Ref Batch
G
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
2
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Varanya Chaubey
Name
Khalfan H. Khalfan
Interviewee's Position
Executive Director
Interviewee's Organization
Organization of People with Disabilities
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Tanzania
Town/City
Zanzibar
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Khalfan H. Khalfan, executive director of the Organization of People with Disabilities, talks about his and others' efforts in Zanzibar to enfranchise disabled people.  He addresses the challenges involved in ensuring disabled people can exercise their right to vote and explains the particular difficulties disabled people face in accessing polling stations, casting their votes in private, and avoiding election violence.  He also speaks briefly about his role as an election observer in Zanzibar’s first multiparty election in 1995 and some of the irregularities he noted during that election.

Profile

At the time of this interview, Khalfan H. Khalfan was executive director of the Organization of People with Disabilities, an advocacy group that he founded in 1985 in his native Zanzibar.  He became involved in disabled-rights activism after traveling to Singapore to attend a meeting for the disabled in 1981, the International Year of Disabled People.  Khalfan also founded the Eastern African Federation of the Disabled.  He was a member of the World Council of Disabled People International for more than 20 years, an elected vice chair for development and underrepresented groups of Disabled People International from 2002 to 2007, and chairperson of the Pan African Federation of the Disabled for 12 years.  Prior to his activism on behalf of rights for the disabled, he worked as a secondary-school teacher for almost 20 years.  He died in March 2009.

Full Audio File Size
50 MB
Full Audio Title
Khalfan H. Khalfan - Full Interview

Fatma Ally

Ref Batch
G
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
7
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Varanya Chaubey
Name
Fatma Ally
Interviewee's Position
Chairperson
Interviewee's Organization
Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Tanzania
Town/City
Zanzibar
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Fatma Ally, chairperson of the Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association, talks about the group’s voter-education efforts during the 2005 parliamentary and presidential elections.  She details the challenges the organization faced in reassuring voters of its neutrality.  She also discusses how messages for the voter education program were developed and the difficulties that the association encountered in securing enough time for the education program before the polling date.

Profile

At the time of this interview, Fatma Ally was the chairperson of the Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association.  She also worked as an executive counselor at the association.

Full Audio File Size
20 MB
Full Audio Title
Fatima Ally - Full Interview

Clarence Kipobota

Ref Batch
G
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
6
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Varanya Chaubey
Name
Clarence Kipobota
Interviewee's Position
Outreach Services Coordinator
Interviewee's Organization
Legal and Human Rights Center
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Tanzania
Place (Building/Street)
Legal and Human Rights Center
Town/City
Dar es Salaam
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Clarence Kipobota draws on his experience working on pre- and post-election issues at the Legal and Human Rights Center to address various aspects of Tanzania’s electoral process.  He highlights problems with the independence of the Electoral Committee, updating the permanent voter registry, ensuring the enfranchisement of marginalized groups and combating voter fraud.  He also details how the center and its partners were pushing for reform, and he discusses the voter-education activities they were leading.

Profile

Clarence Kipobota joined the Legal and Human Rights Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, after graduating from law school in 2003.  At the time of this interview, he held the position of outreach services coordinator, working to coordinate nine different programs focusing on mass education, human rights monitoring, gender, legal aid, public engagement, election watch, Parliament watch, justice watch and government watch.  He was involved in the pre- and post-election activities of the center.

Full Audio File Size
61.8MB
Full Audio Title
Clarence Kipobota- Full Interview

George Sarpong

Ref Batch
E
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
2
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Ashley McCants
Name
George Sarpong
Interviewee's Position
Executive Secretary
Interviewee's Organization
National Media Commission, Ghana
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Ghanaian
Town/City
Accra
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

George Sarpong explains the role of the National Media Commission in Ghana, and the role the media plays in elections in Ghana.  He goes into detail about the way media is employed by the political parties and the electoral management body, distinguishing between state-owned media and privately owned media in this process.  He also explains the role of the media in educating the public in terms of voter registration and how the media has been used to reach out to marginalized populations.  He explains how the media commission regulates negative campaigning, and he discusses the overall role of the commission.  Finally, he describes how election monitors are used and what their goals are in monitoring elections.
 
 
Profile

At the time of this interview, George Sarpong was the executive secretary of the National Media Commission in Ghana.  His extensive experience included involvement with media issues relating to elections through his capacity as the executive director of the Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy, working with youth to increase capacity to participate in democratic discourse, and on issues to prevent violence in elections.  He served as a member of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers, coordinating media activities, and consulted regularly on media, media monitoring, and governance issues for multiple organizations.  He also was involved in elections in Sierra Leona, Cameroon and Liberia.  

Full Audio File Size
44 MB
Full Audio Title
George Sarpong - Full Interview

Alex Paila

Ref Batch
A
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
2
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Ashley McCants
Name
Alex Paila
Interviewee's Position
Voter Education and Public Relations Officer
Interviewee's Organization
National Electoral Commission, Sierra Leone
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Sierra Leone
Town/City
Bo District
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Alex Paila discusses various aspects of national and local election management in Sierra Leone during 2007 and 2008. These areas include the recruitment, training, evaluation and monitoring of election staff; election security; voter registration, audits and curtailment of voter fraud; information dissemination, media relations and enfranchisement of marginalized groups; and financial and logistical constraints and concerns.  He also emphasizes cooperation with community-based civilian organizations as key for information dissemination and higher voter turnouts, and he stresses relations with international organizations to improve workers’ training and monitoring, and secure funding. Paila also speaks about the issues of districting and determining electoral timetables.  Finally, he reflects upon some of the challenges faced by Sierra Leone during the elections in 2007 and 2008, as well as possible hurdles that the country may face in the future.    

Profile

At the time of the interview, Alex Paila was the voter education and public relations officer at the National Electoral Commission in Sierra Leone. Prior to that, he worked as a journalist for various newspapers, including the Ceylon Times and the Spectator. He was also employed, first as a reporter and then as deputy news editor, at the Sierra Leone Broadcast Service. Paila holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. 

Full Audio File Size
84 MB
Full Audio Title
Alex Paila - Full Interview

Victoria Stewart-Jolley

Ref Batch
H
Focus Area(s)
Ref Batch Number
14
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Nealin Parker
Name
Victoria Stewart-Jolley
Interviewee's Position
Legal Adviser
Interviewee's Organization
United Nations Development Programme Electoral Assistance Team, Sierra Leone
Language
English
Town/City
Freetown
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract
Victoria Stewart-Jolley discusses electoral management and electoral law and procedures in Sierra Leone in 2007 and 2008. She analyzes the significance of choice of electoral system, including simple plurality, proportional representation, and block representations, especially in post-conflict states; and she discusses the Constitution of Sierra Leone with regard to election law. Stewart-Jolley speaks about the process for legislating operational procedures, the various challenges faced by the National Electoral Commission in this regard, and the outcomes of these enactments. She considers the nature and functioning of the commission, and discusses the tradeoffs between independence, transparency and political concerns that an electoral management body faces. She reflects upon issues relating to resolving electoral disputes, and the repercussions of various strategies on confidence building in post-conflict countries. Stewart-Jolley also touches upon Sierra Leone’s efforts to enfranchise marginalized demographic groups, and to represent them in government. Finally, she reflects on the role that international organizations play in domestic electoral matters, and the balance that they must strike between offering advice and implementation.
Profile

At the time of this interview, Victoria Stewart-Jolley was a legal adviser for the United Nations Development Programme's Electoral Assistance Team in Sierra Leone, a position that she had held since March 2007. She worked during the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections as well as the 2008 local elections to create legal frameworks for electoral management. Prior to working in Sierra Leone, she was a lawyer for the Electoral Complaints Commission in Afghanistan. Stewart-Jolley also worked in international criminal law in Timor-Leste, and in World Trade Organization law in Indonesia. She holds a law degree and has a background in international public law and constitutional law.

Full Audio File Size
61MB
Full Audio Title
Victoria Stewart-Jolley Interview