The Quick Count and Election Observation

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THE QUICK COUNT AND ELECTION OBSERVATION media education events, a simulation day press conference and electionday press conferences. Qualifications: • Must be a well-regarded, formally trained statistician and social scientist. • Experience with database management systems. • Knowledge of relevant demographic data and trends. • Ability to work, in coordination with international experts, in extremely high-stress environments. • History of political neutrality. JOB DESCRIPTIONS 23 PROJECT PLANNING Project planning skills are essential for quick count success. The most complex, time sensitive tasks are best planned in reverse order working backward from key dates. This forces a focus on the importance of meeting deadlines. It also encourages organizers to tailor activities to achieve objectives. This backward planning approach is described below in three steps—developing a “to do” list, creating a timeline and assigning responsibilities. Step One: Creating a List of Important Events, Activities and Milestones The first step to backward planning is to envision a successful election day. Then list important dates, milestones and activities that should precede this day. Step Two: Plotting Activities on a Timeline The next step in backward planning is to plot all activities on a master timeline. The master chart contains all major deadlines, events and activities leading up to and including the immediate post-election period and provides a powerful visual of the work ahead. Each functional team should develop its own timeline chart which is coordinated precisely with the master timeline chart. The charts should be the focal point for discussion at periodic all-staff meetings so that everyone at headquarters is aware of important events and any schedule changes. 5 The most complex, time sensitive tasks are best planned in reverse order working backward from key dates. Step Three: Assigning Work In addition to the master timeline, the executive director should work in conjunction with staff to divide up the work required to conduct each activity. It is crucial to delegate tasks wisely. Each activity requires tasks from more than one, sometimes all, technical teams. Figure 2-3, which assigns tasks entailed in recruiting volunteers, illustrates this point. Considerations for Strategic Timeline Planning These timelines are invaluable tools, allowing organizations to approach a very complex project one activity at a time, while keeping end goals in mind. Investing time up front to plan allows groups to work more efficiently than if 5 Appendix 2A contains a work plan/timeline developed for a quick count in Nicaragua; appendix 2B shows a work plan developed in Indonesia.
C H A P T E R T W O : G E T T I N G S T A R T E D 24 FIGURE 2-3: TASK ASSIGNMENTS UNDER RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS ACTIVITY: RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS TASK – ASSIGNED TO – Solicit cooperation from outside organizations with access to volunteers: Develop a recruiting message and materials: Identify target numbers and target geographical areas: Create regional committees: Create municipal committees: Make arrangements for recruiting trips: Set up recruiting meetings: Facilitate recruiting meetings: Compile a database of volunteers: Executive Director Volunteer Coordinator and Media Specialist Statistician Volunteer Coordinator with assistance from Board Members and Regional Coordinators Volunteer Coordinator with assistance from Regional Coordinators Logistics Specialist Regional Coordinators Regional Coordinators with assistance from the Volunteer Coordinator Database Manager Investing time up front to plan allows groups to work more efficiently than if operating on a reactive, ad hoc basis. operating on a reactive, ad hoc basis and this reduces the risk of crises and failure. There are several things to keep in mind when using this technique: • Remember the simulation—Most groups conduct a simulation of the entire quick count operation approximately two weeks before election day. It is important to keep this in mind while designing budgets, and while developing activity timelines and task lists. In effect, planners should treat the simulation as if it were election day. All activities to prepare for election day should be completed by simulation day, instead of by election day. (See the Frequently Asked Questions box below for more information.) • Allow for miscalculations—Initial calculations of the time and resources needed to implement individual tasks are often optimistic. Significant time must be built into the timeline to allow for margins of error.
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FIGURE 6-1: SAMPLE OBSERVER FORMS 8
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CHAPTER SEVEN: COLLECTING AND ANALY
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A P P E N D I C E S 134 ORGANIZATIO
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A P P E N D I C E S 136 Ghana • N
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A P P E N D I C E S 138 ment in Afr
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A P P E N D I C E S 140 Montenegro
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A P P E N D I C E S 142 NDI is part
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A P P E N D I C E S 144 WORK PLAN F
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A P P E N D I C E S 146 APPENDIX 3A
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A P P E N D I C E S 148 EXAMPLE OF
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A P P E N D I C E S 150 APPENDIX 3C
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A P P E N D I C E S 152 APPENDIX 3D
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A P P E N D I C E S 154 APPENDIX 4
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A P P E N D I C E S 162 DIAGRAM OF
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A P P E N D I C E S 164 SAMPLE OBSE
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A P P E N D I C E S 166 EXAMPLE OF
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A P P E N D I C E S 168 the polling
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A P P E N D I C E S 170 How to Cond
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A P P E N D I C E S 172 SAMPLE OBSE
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A P P E N D I C E S 174 APPENDIX 9B
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A P P E N D I C E S 176 MALAWI DATA
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A P P E N D I C E S 178 PROMOTIONAL
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