For the general and regional elections of November 28, 2011, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission fielded 25 observers from 14 countries in 9 of the country’s 10 administrative regions, and has maintained a 24-hour presence in the GECOM tabulation center since the close of polls. A total of over 13 percent of the country’s polling stations were visited by the OAS team on Election Day. The following preliminary observations are based on the direct observations of the OAS team along with meetings with GECOM and a cross-section of government, political parties, media, and civil society organizations.

Observations:

· Pre-electoral period

The OAS mission notes the significant preparations made by GECOM ahead of the election to develop procedures and systems that generated a generally inclusive and clean electoral process. In particular, the mission commends the efforts to carry out the 2008 house-to-house registration of electors and its resulting enhancement of the credibility of the list of electors and electoral process as a whole. This improvement over past elections comprises a significant step and was validated by the political parties contesting the presidential race.

Another positive aspect of the campaign period was the adoption of Codes of Conduct for both political parties and media. The effort to instill a sense of collegiality and fair play for the campaign period is considered by the OAS mission an important step toward ensuring a level playing field that should in the future be supported by additional mechanisms for the institutionalization, oversight and sanctioning of these mechanisms.

In this sense, the contributions of the GECOM Media Monitoring Unit to measure adherence to these commitments is considered by the OAS mission to be a valuable tool for transparency and independent analysis. Additional public dissemination of these reports on a frequent basis and support for the continuation of the unit through financial support and institutionalization of this entity would further support Guyana’s evolution toward the presentation of fair and accessible information regarding the choice presented to electors.

As evidenced by the Media Monitoring Unit reports and expressed by a range of parties and stakeholders to the OAS, the current campaign period was characterized by a perception of a limited differentiation between the state and the governing party use of media and resources. The mission’s verbal report to the OAS Permanent Council will address the issues surrounding the campaign process in further detail.

· Election day procedures

On election day, the OAS observers noted that the polls opened on time in nearly all the observed
locations, all essential materials had arrived, and that the poll workers ensured the smooth flow of the process. In addition, electors, local electoral observers, security forces and party agents were present and engaged in almost all observed locations, demonstrating their commitment to the exercise of the process. The OAS mission noted significant voter turnout early in the day along with the nearly complete presence of party agents from the AFC, APNU, and PPP/C at the observed stations. Despite some long lines outside the polling stations, voters were patient and orderly in waiting to cast their ballots.

As part of this mission, the OAS incorporated a pilot of the methodology for the observation of gender participation in the electoral process. The results of this analysis show that Guyana has made significant progress in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in the political process, as Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean region with a gender quota in effect. The current composition of 30 percent female representatives in parliament demonstrates the country’s commitment to female participation in politics. In this regard, the observed polling stations were comprised of more than 75 percent female poll workers, and the active participation of female poll agents and police was also noted.

Regarding security on election day, the isolated cases of tensions that arose during the day and after the close of polls in Georgetown were quickly addressed by GECOM officials and security forces. In this regard, the significant efforts to prepare for the conduct of the activities within the polling stations are to be commended.

The OAS also observed a few issues that may have caused some voter confusion on the day of the election. The proportion of polling stations that were changed between the November 8th, 2011 published Official List of Polling Stations and the list provided to the OAS electoral observation mission dated November 25th was high. These discrepancies came to a national average of over 5 percent of polling stations, and were particularly elevated for stations located in Regions 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10. In at least three of these polling stations OAS observers noted that, on the day prior to the polls, no written notice advising of the new polling location was in evidence.

The OAS mission also observed cases of voters being unable to find their names on the lists at the polling centers, as well as long lines and some voter confusion regarding information on where to cast their vote.

In addition, the Electoral Commission issued notification of the decision to disallow party scrutineers to apply for certificates of work and thereby vote in the polling station they were observing two days prior to the election. In at least one instance in region 4, the OAS observed that this decision had not been relayed to a polling station, resulting in lack of uniform application of the decision and the casting of a ballot by a scrutineer.