Carter Center Sudan Election Observation Mission

Democracy Program

Photo credit: Carter Center/L. Gubb
(Click to enlarge)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter meets the Carter Center Democracy Program staff in Southern Sudan.

Photo credit: Carter Center/L. Gubb
(Click to enlarge)

Zahra Said Ali, programme coordinator for SuNDEthe – Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections – presents a report on observations to Dr. Carroll, Dr. Hardman, and the Carter Center delegation.

Photo credit: Carter Center/ B. Krause, (Click to enlarge)

In Southern Sudan, Eastern Equatoria State, Ikwotos county. Women wait in line to register to vote during Sudan's voter registration campaign in November 2009.

Photo credit: Carter Center/ B. Krause, (Click to enlarge)

A child sits next to a voter registration sign in Kapoetea, Sudan, in November 2009.

Introduction: Carter Center Sudan Election Observation Mission

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The Carter Center launched its election observation mission to observe Sudan's national elections, held April 11-18, 2010, in February 2008 in response to a request from the leaders of the Government of National Unity (GONU) of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). The Center established offices in Khartoum and Juba, and Carter Center staff travelled widely across Sudan to monitor electoral preparations, track the progress of related political developments, and inform key stakeholders of the Center's role in observing Sudan's electoral process.

In early-April 2010, the Center deployed more than 70 short-term observers to observe the balloting, counting, and tabulation processes for the national elections. The Carter Center observation mission was led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Algerian Foreign Minister and member of the Elders Lakhdar Brahimi, former prime minister of Tanzania and Justice Joseph Sinde Warioba, and Carter Center President and CEO Dr. John Hardman. Following the conclusion of polling, Carter Center observers remained in all the states of Sudan to observe the counting and tabulation process at polling stations and centers, state data centers, and the national data center in Khartoum. Carter Center core staff and long-term observers continue to assess the post-election complaints and appeals process and their resolution, and will remain to observe the preparations and implementation of the state legislative assembly elections in Gezira and South Kordofan and other rescheduled elections.

The Center's election mission is assessing the electoral process in Sudan based on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Interim National Constitution, National Elections Act, and obligations for democratic elections contained in regional and international agreements, including the African Charter on Human and People's Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Sudan has ratified.

The objectives of the Carter Center's election observation mission in Sudan are to: a) provide an impartial assessment of the overall quality of the electoral process, b) promote an inclusive electoral process for all Sudanese, and c) demonstrate international interest in Sudan's electoral process.

The Carter Center finalized memoranda of understanding with the GONU and the National Elections Commission (NEC), and the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) on its program of election observation in Sudan in August 2009. The Center welcomes the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by Sudanese authorities in these efforts.

The memoranda of understanding draw from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, National Elections Act, and the Declaration of Principles of International Election Observation and Code of Conduct adopted at the United Nations in 2005. These memoranda guarantee an unrestricted program of observation, including freedom of access throughout the country, and to all stages and actors in the electoral process.

The Center at all times conducts its activities impartially, objectively, transparently, and independently. The Center will inform the NEC of any irregularities, deficiencies, or interference observed, and, when appropriate, will recommend corrective and preventative responses. The Governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan and the NEC have pledged to facilitate the Center's work and provide all possible assistance to the organization and personnel of the Center's election observation mission.

Separate but parallel to its international observation efforts, the Center also provides technical capacity building and training in support of Sudanese civil society organizations that are active in election observation. This work has been welcomed by the NEC and has also been included under the Center's memoranda of understanding with the GONU and GOSS.

Overview of Carter Center Election Observation Methodology
To observe an election, The Carter Center must receive an invitation from the host country, as well as expressions of willingness to have the process observed by all major political actors. Carter Center election observation missions do not interfere in the electoral process. Observers gather and verify information, providing recommendations for reform and the improvement of future electoral processes.

Carter Center election observation missions assess the electoral process against the constitution, the election law, and other pertinent legislation of the host country, as well as the host country's international commitments as outlined in key international and regional treaties.

Carter Center election observation missions generally follow the model laid out below:

In-country presence - In advance of election day, The Carter Center will establish an office in the host country that will be staffed by a field office director and for larger missions, deputy field office directors, and other core team members considered necessary to effectively observe the election. In addition, a number of local support staff will be hired to provide critical assistance to the mission. The Carter Center established a presence in Sudan in both Juba and Khartoum in February 2008.
Long-term Observers - Long-term observers will be recruited and generally arrive three to twelve months in advance of election day. Long-term observers serve as the mission's eyes and ears on the ground, but also logistically prepare for the arrival of a short-term delegation around election day. As part of their work, long-term observers meet with representatives of the election management authority, political parties, and other key actors to better understand their perspective on how the process is unfolding. In Sudan, twelve Long-term observers were deployed in Fall 2009 to monitor the electoral environment and electoral preparations, as well as to prepare for the deployment of short-term observers during the immediate electoral period.
Medium-term Observers – During key moments in the electoral process, the Center may deploy medium-term observers to complement the work of long-term observers. medium-term observers help to monitor and report on the technical processes and electoral environment. In the case of Sudan, The Carter Center deployed MTOs to monitor the voter registration period. They reported on the technical implementation of the registration, electoral environment, and inclusiveness of the National Elections Commission's (NEC) effort to complete Sudan's first comprehensive national voter registry. medium-term observers paid particular attention to the capacity of the state election committees, the level of voter education regarding the process, and the coverage of geographic areas achieved by registration teams. Following a briefing in Khartoum, medium-term observers were deployed in teams of two and traveled to every region of Sudan before returning for a final debriefing session to discuss the mission's findings on voter registration.
Short-term Observers - About a week before election day, a delegation of short-term observers will arrive in the host country. They will receive comprehensive briefings and trainings in the capital city before being deployed in teams of two to areas around the country where they will observe the immediate per-election preparations, voting, and tabulation.
Release of the Preliminary Statement – One to two days after the election, the Center will hold a press conference and release a preliminary statement of their findings. This statement will include observations from the pre-election period, as well as the findings of the short-term observation delegation on election day.
Post-election Observation – Following election day, long-term observers will be redeployed to their areas of responsibility to observe the tabulation of results and the resolution of post-election disputes until the end of the project, usually one month to six weeks after the election.
Release of the Final Report – Some months after the end of the mission, The Carter Center will issue a final report that includes its main observations as well as recommendations for the improvement of future electoral processes. Click here to view all Carter Center election observation mission reports >>

The Carter Center observation methods reflect the principles included in The Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which was endorsed at the United Nations in October 2005. View the list of elections observed by The Carter Center since 1989 >>

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