The Quick Count and Election Observation

THE QUICK COUNT AND ELECTION OBSERVATION
Creating an Election-Day Schedule
Setting out an election-day schedule helps develop a reasonable timetable for
releasing qualitative and quantitative data. This is an important resource for
staff responsible for running or supporting specific election-day activities. The
schedule should highlight important external and internal milestones or activities,
such as the following:
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• officials and observers arrive at polling stations;
• voting begins and quick count observers leave polling stations to make
their first call;
• the majority of Form 1 quick count reports (on the opening of the polling
stations) arrive at the data collection center; 1
• quick count analysts complete a first report on Form 1 data;
• group releases a report of quick count findings on installation of the
polling stations at an estimated time;
• voting ends;
• minimum and maximum time it will take for votes to be counted at the
polling station level;
• the majority of quick count Form 2 data (on the quality of the voting and
counting processes, and the vote totals) arrives at the quick count center; 2
• report completed on quick count Form 2 data, including projections of
the election results;
• the electoral authorities tabulate and release official results (whether in
real time, in increments or once totals are available); and,
• group releases qualitative data and quick count vote projections at an
estimated time.
The Content of a Data Release Protocol
Now retreat participants are ready to turn to the specifics of a protocol that
will govern how they release quick count results. Any data release protocol
should answer at least five basic questions:
1. Who will have access to quick count results internally, and when?
2. Precisely what information will be available for release to outside sources?
3. To whom will the data be released?
4. When (estimated) will the information be shared?
5. In what manner will reports be shared?
Experience shows that it is critical to establish ground rules for managing quick
count findings within the organization well in advance of election night.
Projections of election results, in particular, are vital data, and it is often best
to limit internal access to this data to (1) the statistician who is generating and
checking the results as well as preparing the graphics and (2) the executive
Projections of election
results, in particular,
are vital data, and it is
often best to limit internal
access to this data.
1, 2
See Chapter Five, Statistical Principles and Quick Counts; Chapter Six, The Qualitative Component
of the Quick Count; and Chapter Seven, Collecting and Analyzing Quick Count Data for detailed
information on Forms 1 and 2 and the manner in which data from the forms are collected.