Safeguarding Health and Elections - Mitigating the risks of COVID-19 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Safeguarding Health and Elections - Mitigating the risks of COVID-19

Staffan Darnolf

1

Introduction

2

Introduction

3

Modes of Transmission

• Direct – person to person via respiratory droplets
• Indirect – via fomites (contaminated objects and surfaces

COVID-19 – Background Information

Introduction

4

1) Conduct joint public health risk assessment 2) Develop risk-mitigation plan with necessary changes to regulations and procedures, additional material, legal amendments. Develop an outreach plan. 3) Integrate the mitigation plan into an updated EMB operational plan, revise election calendar and budget.

EMB’s Fundamental & Early Tasks

Introduction

5

Electoral Campaign

• Provide risk-mitigation instructions for

public rallies, debates, and other gatherings

• Streamline messaging with political

parties, candidates, civil society

• rganizations, and media
• Adopt or expand access to the media and
• ther methods for remote campaign fairly
• Detect and sanction actors using COVID-

19-related disinformation for political gains

• Develop code of conduct

Activity-Specific Recommendations Phase I: Pre-Electoral Activities

Introduction

6

Voter Ed & Strategic Comms

• About COVID-19 and about new electoral

procedures and how to comply with them

• Address disease-related disinformation and

hate speech against vulnerable or marginalized groups

Activity-Specific Recommendations Phase I: Pre-Electoral Activities

Best practices in health literacy:

Limited number of messages - One idea at a time, no more than three or four instructions What to do rather than not do – Active voice and positive tone Choosing words – Short sentences, simple or familiar words, culturally appropriate. Selecting visuals – Font and size easy to read, images illustrate desired health-related behavior. High resolution to allow for large prints, culturally relevant and sensitive.

Introduction

7

Poll Worker, Observers, and Other Staff Recruitment

• Recruit and train more poll workers

to replace potential dropouts

• Accessible virtual platforms for

recruitment

• Release healthcare workers and at-

risk groups

Activity-Specific Recommendations Phase I: Pre-Electoral Activities

Poll Worker, Observer, and Other Staff Training

• Accessible virtual platforms for training

with attention-checkers

• Large facilities allowing for distance
• Hand sanitization
• COVID-19 info incorporated to material
• New procedures incorporated to material

Introduction

8

Voter Registration, Candidate Registration, Ballot Casting

• Location - large to allow for physical distance;

far from at-risk groups, natural ventilation

• Layout – desks, chairs respecting distance;

remove unnecessary objects

• Number of voters – reduce number of people

at the same place at a time (expand number

• f days, assign groups to slots)
• Queue control and building entry and exit

protocols – design path for citizens from queue to exit, sanitizing hands before and after vote

Activity-Specific Recommendations Phase I: Pre-Electoral Activities

Introduction

9

Voter Registration, Candidate Registration, Ballot Casting (Cont.)

• Educational material – displayed in all

polling stations

• Shared items – encourage citizens to bring

personal pens, provide disposable ones, or sanitize after each voter

• Protocol for voter verification – touchless

verification of ID

• Sanitization of equipment – contact

manufacturers for instructions

• Waste – appropriate collection and disposal

Activity-Specific Recommendations Phase I: Pre-Electoral Activities

Introduction

10

Voter Registration, Candidate Registration, Ballot Casting (Remote Options)

• Ensure inclusivity and accessibility of
• nline/remote options – internet

penetration, content accessible to persons with disabilities, user friendliness

• Mail-in forms and ballots – use self-

sealing envelopes, sanitize hands after handling

Activity-Specific Recommendations Phase I: Pre-Electoral Activities

Introduction

11

Vote Count and Results Management Layout – desk space following distance requirements Party agents and observers – observe the count of each vote from a distance, as poll workers show each ballot Signing of tally sheets – signers take turn, use own pens Transportation and processing – use of PPE Activity-Specific Recommendations Phase II: Election-Day Activities and Post-Electoral Processes

Introduction

12

• Safe and credible elections during COVID-19 are possible, but

they depend on a number of factors, including:

• Status of disease transmission in the country (number of cases, trajectory of

transmission) and capacity of healthcare system

• Successful coordination with health authorities (for accuracy of information,
• ptimal decision-making, and streamlined communication)
• Effective communication with stakeholders to 1) make them confident in the safety
• f the process and 2) instruct them on how to effectively mitigate risks
• Capacity to procure necessary materials and supplies, implement new processes,

and establish new procedures

• Capacity to implement and enforce new procedures on time
• Capacity to maintain levels of citizen participation

Conclusions