From the Sudan Advocacy Action Forum RCA e-letter:
Dear Friends of Sudan,
There is a lot to read, but I believe you will find it not only
educational, but also very hopeful. The hope comes from the recognition by people of having a voice. The peace will come when they voices have become strong enough to be heard. Below is a note from our friend, Bill Andress at PCUSA. I do especially appreciate the Women’s Agenda! May God bless these women and the lives they will touch and the governments they will change!
In prayer for peace and change for the oppressed of Sudan,
Sharon
Dear Sudanese Friends,
This is a request for your action whether you are located in Sudan or elsewhere. It urges you to work for 30 days to get voters registered. This recommendation does not endorse any candidate. Those choices are for Sudanese to make and there is time to do that later.
A recent report issued by the National Democratic Institute for
International Affairs provides significant insight into the readiness of citizens of Southern Sudan and the Three Areas for Elections. Some of the significant findings are:
1. The election is looked to with anticipation, concerns for fraud, and high expectations which could be a source of significant frustration if delayed.
2. The understanding of procedures, issues, registration, who can vote, etc is poor.
3. Insecurity, distant polling locations, and identification
requirements are recognized as problems by the population, but security issues and fraud are the greatest concerns.
Right now the numbers being registered are small. This is a significant problem because activists can control an election by encouraging people of one opinion to register while others do not. You can minimize the potential for registration and election fraud by helping to increase the numbers of people registered.
Attached are several documents:
1. Sudan Imagining the Election, complete report 2. Sudan Imagining
the Election, extract which focuses on registration. (Follows this posting)
3. South Sudanese Women’s Agenda (this will be of interest to
women)
I urge you to study the attached material and then undertake an
education campaign which will vary depending on your location.
For examples:
1. Those who are part of Churches in Southern Sudan can work to educate all of those in their parishes.
2. Those who are in diaspora can communicate with their friends and family, educate them, and encourage them to spread the information.
Among specific actions:
1. Assure that people know that if they do not register, they will not be allowed to vote.
2. Explain who can register, how to register, when must register
(before end of November), and wheter to register. The voter
registration fact sheets are great resources.
3. If you are local, print out the Ballot Bulletin that is most
appropriate and post it where it can be read. To reach those who do not read English (most), either translation and printing or verbal encouragement in the local language will be needed.
The future of Southern Sudan, indeed all of Sudan, may rest upon your success.
In His Service,
xxxxxxxx
Sudan Advocacy Action Forum
IMAGINING THE ELECTION
A Look at What Citizens Know and Expect of Sudan’s 2010 Vote
by National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
September 30, 2009
This is an extract.
Building Knowledge of and Support for the Election Process
The upcoming election will be the first multi-party, democratic experience for many. Southern Sudanese and participants in the Three Areas are eager to participate in the election, but they know little about the mechanics of voting, assume there will be widespread cheating and harbor many misperceptions about who should or can be involved in the election. Civic and voter education efforts will need to be multi-faceted to increase not only knowledge of voting, but also faith in the election process.
Because it is a voice of authority respected by the Southern population, the GoSS must play a lead role on voter education, particularly as it relates to issues of multi-party competition and international and domestic observers. Some participants in this study assume they already know the outcome of the election or that they will be able to predict it during campaigning based on their own assessments of candidate support. As a result, there will be a portion of the population that will find it difficult to accept that their candidate has lost. These beliefs set the stage for a dissatisfied, and possibly violent, response if the announced results do not meet expectations.
Recommendations:
- Communicate the purpose of the election to eliminate any confusion between it and the referendum.
- Explain the various offices to be voted on and emphasize the importance of each to prevent a major drop-off in voting for lower-level offices.
- Engage in a large scale effort to provide details about the voting process, including voter registration, and address misperceptions about party- or candidate-labeled ballot boxes.
- Address concerns about the secret ballot, including fears that it will increase rigging, and reassure the illiterate population of their ability to cast a ballot.
- Inform the public about voting and counting safeguards and the role of monitors and observers to build confidence in the process and the results.
- Promote the benefits of multi-party competition and the rights of all parties to campaign, including through GoSS pronouncements sanctioning the activity.
- Educate the population on the role and benefit of international and domestic observers, including through GoSS pronouncements sanctioning the activity.
- Instruct the population about appropriate behavior for party/candidate supporters in the election and the dangers of election-related conflict.
- Inform the population of the importance of respecting freedom of speech and the rights of citizens to support any candidate/party of their choosing to reduce the likelihood of local level violence.
- Clarify the role of traditional authorities in the election.
- Involve traditional authorities in voter education to leverage their close connection with communities.
- Explain that winners and losers are a natural part of the democratic process and emphasize that elected officials represent all the people, regardless of tribe.
- Promote the idea of accepting results in a fair election.
Share information that will help citizens develop more realistic