The Quick Count and Election Observation

THE QUICK COUNT AND ELECTION OBSERVATION
The Technical Team
• Sums up lessons learned regarding the application of statistical methods
to the voting, counting and tabulation processes.
• Recommends future activities requiring the application of statistical methods
(e.g., verifying the accuracy of voter registries, assessing the proper
delineation of election districts or analyzing media coverage of political
parties and issues).
• Documents how communications and information technology were used
to (1) rapidly transmit information to and from large numbers of people
and (2) efficiently organize, store and retrieve that information.
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The Administration Team
• Documents effective mechanisms for working with numerous donors and
managing funding for large-scale, time-sensitive programs.
The Volunteer Coordination Team
• Holds post-election debriefing sessions for observers, regional coordinators
and communications volunteers to explain the nature of the group’s
longer-term structure, activities, and possibilities for involvement. Gives
volunteers an opportunity to provide feedback regarding the future nature
and role of the organization.
• Establishes mechanisms for future communications with volunteers (e.g.,
setting up a database, providing contact information, publishing newsletters).
• Compiles, evaluates and stores all training and observation materials.
Legal Analysis Team
• Documents knowledge about the legal framework for elections and its
implementation; the electoral environment and opportunities for political
competition; the ability of citizens to make informed choices without
being intimidated or improperly influenced; and voter turnout, voting
patterns or other background information.
• Helps group to raise awareness about election-related problems (e.g., by
holding roundtables or other events with political parties, candidates,
electoral authorities, the media and other civic organizations).
• Helps group to make recommendations and advocate for needed reforms.
Leadership (Board of Directors, Executive Director and Key Staff)
• Holds a retreat or series of meetings to process and evaluate the quick
count project.
• Reviews reports and recommendations made by the functional teams
and considers feedback from volunteer coordinators and observers.
• Makes basic decisions about the future in light of pre-existing plans for longer-term
activities (e.g., whether to continue as an organization, how to structure the organization,
what activities to pursue, how to pursue financing).