Electronic Voting & Counting Technologies - IFES

INTERNATIONAL PILOT PROJECTELECTORAL STANDARDSAt a minimum, it is suggested that thefollowing project management structures beestablished to implement an electronic votingand counting technology pilot project:• Pilot Project Committee — This shouldinclude at least some members of theFeasibility Study Committee (assumedto be the case in this guide) and seniormembers of the EMB. It will also beimportant to include representativesfrom all of the components of the EMBwhich will need to have an active rolein implementing the pilot project. Thismay include representatives from fieldoperations, training, logistics, votereducation, legal and IT sections.• Pilot Project Manager — Day-to-daymanagement of a complex projectcannot be done by a Committee.Therefore, proper management of thepilot project will require that a competentstaff member be identified as the focalpoint for pilot project activities. Thisproject manager would need to be fulltime on the pilot project, empowered withauthority to take decisions while reportingback to the Pilot Project Committee ondevelopments and compliance with theimplementation plan.The issue of contact with vendors prior tothe issue of a contract for the supply ofelectronic technologies is worth mentioningagain. Contacts with vendors will be requiredas the procurement process is under way.The Pilot Project Committee will need toensure it deals fairly and equally with vendorsand protects itself from any allegations offavoritism and inappropriate conduct withrespect to vendors. A single point of contactshould be established, with communicationsapproved by the Pilot Project Committee.Risk Management PlanThe Council of Europe recommends thata risk management plan should alwaysbe developed for an electronic voting andcounting technology project. 93 This is goodpractice for any project, but especially sofor electoral projects where timely deliveryof voting services are so critical. The riskmanagement plan should cover the followingpotential difficulties if or when they occur: 94• Equipment is late or missing.• Equipment breaks down.• Internet connection fails.• Access to the voting website or the voterregister fails due to firewalls or othersecurity measures.• There is a software error.• Polling station personnel do not arrive.• There is a power failure.• There is a natural disaster or otheremergency.• Challenges in securing the necessaryrecruitment of skilled human resources.93 Council of Europe (2010), p. 31.94 Mainly drawn from Council of Europe (2004) p. 31,but with a few additions.60Electronic Voting & Counting Technologies: A Guide to Conducting Feasibility Studies