Manual for Election Observers

Introduction I Electoral Procedures

1. Polling board 2a Voting Ballots 2b General Electoral List

2c Extracts from the Register of Electors for that Polling Station 2d The Book of Voters 2e The Record of the Work of the Polling Board 2f Ballot Boxes 2g Polling Booths 2h Box for Keeping Control Coupons 3. Polling Station with its Environment 4. Preparations for the Opening of the Polling Board 5. The Voting Procedure 6. Special circumstances

Assistance during the voting Voting Outside the Polling Station 7. Closing of Polling Stations and Counting Procedure

II Instructions for Observers on Election Day

1. Rules of Behavior 2. Instructions for Observing and Reporting

III Annex

Our Right to Monitor Elections Electoral System for the Municipal Assembly Political Parties and Candidates Allocation of Mandates after the Elections Administrative Structure of Elections Republic Election Commission Municipal Election Commissions (MEC) Voters Dissolution of the Polling Board Our Identity Card

Introduction One of the most important elements for the development of civil society in Montenegro is independent and impartial monitoring of the elections by domestic nongovernmental organizations. The Center for Democratic Transition is a nongovernmental organization, whose membership is young people who support the development of democratic processes. So far, the organization has initiated its fourth campaign of civic monitoring of the elections in Montenegro. Your rights and obligations as an accredited CDT observer for local municipal elections, which will be held on May 15, 2002, are stated in the Law on Election of Councilors and Representatives and in this manual. We have arranged the manual in a way that, at the very beginning, we offer you information, which will be most important for you on Election Day, including the legal provisions and directions for monitoring according to the order of electoral activities at the polling station. In order to carry out your duties in the most professional way, wider knowledge about the competences of the different boards that take part in the election process will be of use to you. And, we have put this kind of information in the Annex. In the Annex, you can also find the information about CDT’s program and activities. Please read the manual carefully and respect the instructions narrowly, especially paying attention to the rules of behavior for the observers. CDT

I Voting Procedure

1. The Polling Board

The Polling Board directly administers the voting process at the polling station, ensures the regularity and secrecy of voting, and establishes the results of voting at the polling station. It also keeps order at the polling station during the voting and nominates two of its members to administer voting outside of the polling station. A Polling Board is appointed for each polling station not later than 10 days prior to the Election Day. The Polling Board consists of a chairman, four permanent members and an authorized representative for each electoral list submitted. Two representatives of opposition parties in the municipal assembly, which won the largest number of votes in the last election, are also included in the permanent composition of the Polling Board. The Chairman and members of the Polling Board, as well as the authorized representatives, may each have deputies who replace them in case of their absence or inability to perform their tasks and duties. 2. Election Materials The Polling Board takes election material from the Municipal Election Commission (MEC) at least 48 hours before the elections. Election material consists of: - Voting ballots;

- General electoral lists; - Extracts from the Register of electors for that polling station; - Special and official envelopes; - A record of the work of the Polling Board form; - Sufficient ballot boxes, which are transparent, and the means to seal the boxes; - Other instruments necessary for voting (polling booths, the book of voters, spray,

optical reader, etc.) a) Voting Ballots The Voting ballot includes: - The constituency;

- The ordinal number, which is put in front of the candidate list; - The title of the election list, according to the schedule confirmed for the general

election list, and its ordinal number; - A remark stating that voters are to choose only one candidate on the list by

circling either the title or name/surname of the first candidate on the list. On the back of the voting ballot in the upper right corner should be the title of the municipality, the title and the number of the polling station, and the stamp of the Polling Board with the title and the number of the polling station. The voting ballot is printed so that it contains two parts: a control coupon that has a unique serial number and the actual voting ballot. The unique serial

number is not printed on the voting ballot portion. The control coupon and the voting ballot are separated by perforation. The number of ballots should be equal to the number of voters in the Register of Electors, and the number of extra ballots cannot be more than 3% of the total number of electors. b) The General Electoral List The general electoral list with the title of the election list and all its candidates during the voting process has to be visibly posted at the polling station. c) Extracts from the Register of Electors for that Polling Station The Register of Electors is a public document where the names of citizens who have the right to vote are entered; it is only used for the elections. The Register of Electors includes: - The unique ordinal number under which s/he is entered in the Register; - First name and surname; - Date and place of birth; - Citizenship; - Address and date of last statement of personal residence; - Unique ordinal number of voter.

The body in charge for the Register of Electors compiles verified extracts of the Register for each polling station. Each extract, besides information entered in the Register of Electors, contains: - The name of the body in charge; - The date of compilation and the designation of the polling stations.

d) The Book of Voters

The body in charge of the Register of Electors issues a book of voters for each

polling station. It includes:

- Name and surname; - Date and place of birth; - Address of the voter; - Residence; - Unique ordinal number of the voter; - Place for signature.

If the unique ordinal number of the voter is not determined, than the number of

personal identification is entered in the book.

e) The Record of the Work of the Polling Board

The record of the work of the Polling Board is written on the appropriate form. The Record form contains information about people who were monitoring the work of Polling Board and how much time they spent at the polling station. The Chair enters the information in the Record, and all possible remarks of the members of the Polling Board are entered at the moment they are made.

f) Ballot Boxes

The Ballot Box is transparent and made of appropriate material in proper dimensions. The Polling Board seals the ballot box with appropriate instruments. A ballot is attached to the box.

The Ballot Box must be placed so that all members of the Polling Board can

clearly see it.

g) Polling Booths

Polling booths have to be made of adequate material (not paper or cardboard) and must be placed so that secrecy of voting is completely secure.

h) Box for Keeping Control Coupons The box for keeping the control coupon is made of appropriate material (cardboard, wood, plastic) and it has a cover. It has internal compartments, which correspond to the dimension of the coupon.

! If you have any special concerns regarding the quality and quantity of election materials, please note your remarks on your observer ID form. You should also note the eventual remarks of Polling Board members and political party representatives regarding election materials.

3. The Polling Station with its Environment

Polling stations are established by the MEC upon the proposal of the authority in charge of running the Register of Electors at least 20 days prior to the Election Day. Polling stations must be arranged so that there is enough space for all members of the Polling Boards to see and have access to the ballot box and election materials at all times. Polling stations have to be visibly marked.

Polling stations are located so that there are no more than 1,000 registered voters for each polling station. A citizen votes at the polling station where he/she is entered in the Extract of the Register of the Electors. Polling stations are opened at 8 a.m. and closed at 9 p.m. During “working” hours, polling station must be constantly open. If public order and peace at the polling station is disturbed, the Polling Board may interrupt voting until order is restored.

If voting is interrupted for more than one hour, it shall be prolonged for the time of duration of the interruption.

The Police and other uniformed persons are not allowed to enter the polling station during the voting, unless invited by the Polling Board to enter the place where public order and peace has been disturbed.

No one is allowed to come to the polling station carrying arms and dangerous objects.

Persons having no rights or duties with regard to administration of the elections are forbidden to remain at the polling station.

At the polling station and within 50 meters, it is forbidden to display political party symbols and other promotional materials that may affect the decision of the voters.

Use of mobile phones and pagers is forbidden at the polling station.

All members of the Polling Board or their deputies must be present at the polling station during the process of voting.

! Pay attention especially to the maintenance of order at the polling station and its environment.

Have you noticed any political party symbols or other promotional materials? Take note of which parties and where!

Have you noticed the improper presence of police and other uniformed persons within or near the polling station?

Have you noticed the presence of political party activists nearby the polling station who may affect the decision of the voters?

Have you noticed in any way disrespect for the electoral silence on Election Day by using speakers or electronic media for the purposes of propaganda, distribution of pamphlets, etc.?

4. Preparations for Opening the Polling Station

Before opening the polling station, the Polling Board will determine by drawing lots the permanent member who, in the presence of other members, will make a deliberate damage to the polling board stamp by cutting or burning the rubber matrix, and will also select a permanent member of the Polling Board who will be stamping the ballots with the damaged stamp as the ballots are handed over to the voters. The control coupon of the voting ballot is not stamped with the determined stamp of the Polling Board. By drawing lots, a member of the Polling Board is selected to remove the control coupon from the ballot after the voter has voted, and a permanent member is selected by drawing lots to be in charge of voting outside the polling station

Voting ballots are arranged according to the sequence of the serial numbers on the control coupon so that they can be handed to the voters in that sequence. In the presence of the voter who is first in line at the polling station, the Polling Board will check the ballot box. The result of this control is registered on the control sheet signed by all members of the Polling Board and the first voter. After that, the control sheet is placed in the ballot box, which is sealed in the presence of the first voter, and this action is noted in the Record.

! How would you evaluate the quality of preparations at your polling station? Was the voting procedure related to the control slip obeyed? Were the ballot boxes sealed properly?

5. The Voting Procedure

- Each citizen votes in person; - A voter can vote only once during elections; - Voting is done in secrecy;

An authorized representative of the Polling Board checks with ultraviolet light each voter when he/she enters polling station in order to determine if there is the presence of invisible ink. With confirmation that there is no presence of invisible ink, the voter will:

- State name and surname - Prove identity by showing some form of identification with a photograph and a personal number or ID number on it (i.e., the voter’s ID, passport or driver’s license)

Upon confirming the identity of the voter, a member of the Polling Board:

- Circles the ordinal number before his/her name in extract of the Register of Electors; - Explains the voting procedure to him, and hands over a ballot paper, which is stamped with the aforementioned damaged stamp on the back of the ballot.

A voter confirms taking a ballot by signing the book of voters.

Upon determining the position on the Register of Electors, a member of the Polling Board puts invisible ink on the right point finger and warns voter to keep finger up until the ink is dried. If the voter doesn’t have right point finger, order of the fingers that ink should be put on is: thumb, finger 3, 4, 5, and if he doesn’t have right hand same order is applied on the left hand. If the voter doesn’t have fingers, the ink test is not applied. If a voter refuses to have his/her finger sprayed with the special ink, the voter will not be allowed to vote.

If requested by a voter, members of the Polling Board can explain the voting procedure again.

Voter chooses only one candidate list by circling either:

- The ordinal number before the title of the candidate list; or, - The title of the candidate list; or, - The name and surname of the first candidate on the list.

After voting the voter folds the marked ballot paper in a manner that conceals the party s/he has voted for but leaves the control coupon free. The voter then goes with the ballot to a member of the Polling Board, who was chosen by drawing lots, to remove the control coupon. Then the voter places the ballot paper in the ballot box and leaves the polling station.

! Please pay attention to the organization of the Polling Board Members Are the Members of the polling board organized in accordance with the

voting procedure? Also pay attention to whether the polling board members do the following:

1. Check each person with ultraviolet light; 2. Identify voters; 3. Circle the voter’s names on the Register of Electors; 4. Seal the ballots, sign the Book of Voters, put the invisible ink, and explain

the voting procedure; 5. Remove the coupons and place ballots in the ballot box?

Were there any cases of voting on behalf of another person? Was the control coupon removed immediately before placing the ballot in the

ballot box? Are any voters allowed to mark their voting ballots from outside the voting

booth?

6. Voting according to special circumstances

Assistance during the voting

If for reasons of blindness, disability or illiteracy, a voter needs assistance in marking his/her ballot, s/he has the right to bring another person who is not a member of the Polling Board with him to mark the ballot and perform the voting procedure for him/her. Voting Outside the Polling Station

A voter who cannot come to the polling station because of a sickness or age

informs the Polling Board that s/he wishes to vote. A member of the Polling Board in charge of voting outside the polling station will enable that voter to cast his/her ballot in a manner that ensures directness and secrecy of the vote. After being informed, the member of the Polling Board in charge of voting outside the polling station will deliver the voter an official envelope containing the stamped ballot paper, the general candidate

list with all candidate lists included, and a special envelope to put his marked ballot paper. After the voter has voted, s/he will place the ballot paper in the special envelope, which is then sealed and wax-stamped in his presence by a member of the Polling Board. The sealed envelope is then placed in the official envelope, which is also sealed in the presence of the voter by the member of the Polling Board. The Polling Board member delivers the official envelope to the Polling Board, which opens it, circles the ordinal number before the voter's name on the extract, and places the special envelope into the ballot box.

Utilizing this method of voting should be entered into the Record.

! If there were any voting under special circumstances on your polling station, please make a note of it:

Are the appropriate procedures being followed with regard to voting of sick and disabled persons?

Were their any voters who unnecessarily used this method of voting? 7. Closing of Polling Stations and Counting Procedure

Voters who are present at the polling station at the time of closing are allowed to cast their votes. The polling board is to determine the number and identity of such voters before extending the hours of the Election Day.

After the polling station has been closed, the Polling Board begins to count the votes and determine the election results in its polling station. Counting procedures should proceed as follows: - The number of unused ballot papers are counted and placed in a separate envelope,

which is sealed. - The number of control coupons separated from the ballot papers are counted and

placed in a separate envelope, which is sealed. - The number of voters who have voted based on the extract from the Register of

Electors is determined. - When the ballot box is opened, it is first determined if the control slip, put in the ballot box at the beginning of voting, is in the ballot box. - Valid ballots are separated from invalid ballots.

Invalid ballots include:

- Unmarked ballots; - Ballots marked in such a way that it is not clear for which candidate list the

voter has voted; - Ballots with more than one candidate list circled.

The Polling Board counts and notes in the Record:

- The number of invalid ballot papers;

- The number of valid ballot papers; - The number of votes cast for each candidate list.

The Polling Board enters into the Record:

- The number of ballots received; - The number of unused ballots; - The number of used ballots; - The number of valid ballots; - The number of voters according to the extract of the Register of Electors; - The number of voters from the voter’s list who have voted; - The number of voters who have voted by post.

Also entered into the Record are any remarks and opinions of Polling Board

members, as well as other facts that may be relevant to the election.

All members of the Polling Board sign the Record, and each receives a copy of the Record.

The Polling Board places unused, invalid and valid ballot papers in separate envelopes and seals the envelopes. The completed Record of the Work of the Polling Board, the extract of the Register of Electors, ballots, the control coupons, the stamp of the Polling Board, and any other remaining electoral material is placed in another envelope and sealed.

The envelope with all election materials is delivered to MEC without delay and not later than 12 hours after the polling station has closed.

! Please evaluate the closing of polling stations and counting procedure by noting

the following remarks in the ID document: Were there any voters present at the polling station at the time of its closing? Were the unused ballot papers sealed and placed in the envelopes before the

ballot box was opened? Was the control slip found in the ballot box after its opening? Were the number of ballots in the ballot box after its opening bigger than

the number of voters who voted according to the extract of the Register of Electors? Note the number of ballots, which Polling Board considers invalid.

Was the announcement of invalid ballots legitimate? Was there any special kind of invalid ballots? II Instructions for Observers on Election Day

1. Rules of Behavior

The success of our civic monitoring project is dependent on the project’s organization, as

well as the behavior of each individual observer. Our goal is to ensure that the organization is perceived as a truly independent and reliable organization reporting on the election process for the benefit of the Montenegrin population.

For the CDT findings to be accepted by a wide majority of the Montenegrin population, it is imperative that all those associated with our project carry out their duties professionally and without political bias.

And, that means the following:

- As an observer, we ask that you maintain total impartiality in the conduct of your duties, expressing no political preference or bias in relation to national authorities, political parties or individual candidates.

- As an observer, we ask that you refrain from talking to the media at any point during the election process.

- As an observer, we ask that you not interfere in the electoral process.

Observers should be:

- Nonpartisan, rational and have the ability to observe;

- Informed about all rights that they have as observers; - Informed about election rules and all possible irregularities; - Familiar with recording and reporting procedures; - Organized for monitoring of the polling station and delivering reports.

2. Instructions for Observing and Reporting

In order to observe voting and counting procedures better, and make your job easier, bring with you:

- Your accreditation; - Identity card or some other identification document; - This manual; - Observer forms; - A writing instrument; - A sandwich and drink (non-alcoholic).

Observers should come at least half an hour before the polling station opens.

When you come to the polling station introduce yourself to the Chair and other Polling Board members. Introduce yourself to other observers too, and find out to which parties or coalitions they belong.

Bring your accreditation at the polling station and carry it in a conspicuous manner.

Choose your seat, ensuring you do not cause an obstruction to the voting process, but making

sure you can clearly see the proceedings. Use this manual and check if all procedures stated in it have been obeyed. Note down your remarks in the observer form. As non-party observer of CDT you should be aware of the atmosphere inside and outside of the polling station.

Please remain at your polling station until the counting of votes is finished, fill out and

sign the reporting form. Please do not express your feelings about election results while you are CDT observer.

If you notice any problem or violation of election procedures, carefully and politely bring it to the attention of the Polling Board chairman and note it on your observer form.

Depending on the “weight” and seriousness of the problem:

a) Note your remarks on your reporting form; or, b) If there was a greater violation of the election procedure or violation of law, note your remarks in the reporting form, and contact your Municipal Coordinator by phone or fax.

Each observer should distinguish between innocent mistakes in implementing the election law and violations that could greatly affect election procedures. Serious violations are considered:

Systematic violations of election procedure Violations that could influence the free choice of voters Violations of the secrecy of voting Violations that could fundamentally influence the election results.

Besides all the above-mentioned, we suggest that you pay attention and immediately

contact your municipal coordinator in the following situations:

- You or other observers are not allowed to enter the polling station or you were forced to leave it;

- Chaos and confusion at the polling station.

You should note down your observations in the report form, and, according to the agreement, deliver it to your municipal coordinator. III ANNEX Our Right to Monitor Elections

The right for us to observe the elections is provided by the document of the 1990 meeting

of the then-Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In section 8 of that document, signed by the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, it says:

The participating States, consider that the presence of observers, both foreign and domestic, can enhance the electoral process for States in which elections are taking place. They therefore invite observers from any other CSCE participating States and any appropriate private institutions and organizations who may wish to do so to observe the course of their national elections proceedings, to the extent permitted by law. They will also endeavor to facilitate similar access for election proceedings held below the national level. Such observers will undertake not to interfere in the electoral proceedings.

The Law for Election of Councilors and Representatives states: Authorized representatives of the local nongovernmental organizations registered for observing the exercise of political rights and freedoms shall be allowed to monitor the course of the election and the work of the bodies in charge of administering the election (Article 111a).

Authorized representatives of foreign countries and relevant international organizations and nongovernmental institutions, registered for observing the election and the exercise of the suffrage, may monitor the course of the election and the work of the bodies in charge of administering the election in conformity with provisions prescribed by this law (Article 111v).

Local nongovernmental organizations that show interest in observing the elections shall apply at least five days before Election Day to the Republic Election Commission providing the name of the organization, the certificate of entering the registry, and the number and composition of the observer's representatives. NGOs that are issued official authorization from the REC shall be issued identification cards for each observer bearing the name and surname of the observer and title of the organization to which the observer belongs. Obligations < The person to whom the ID card is issued will be obliged to carry it in a conspicuous

manner (Article 111d, LECR). < The Polling Board shall enter into the Record the presence of observers at the polling

stations (Article 111dj, LECR). < At the proposal of election administrative bodies, the REC can withdraw authorization

and the identification card from any person who fails to observe the rules with regard to the maintenance of order at the polling stations or rules regarding the work of the election administration bodies (Article 111e, LECR).

< Persons monitoring the operation of the election bodies are obliged to act in conformity with the law and the rules of conduct established by the Republican Election Commission; if any person breaks the rules of keeping order at the polling station, or in any other way, disrupts the work of an election body, the election body may remove them and enter this in the Record (Article 22, LECR).

Rights < The bodies in charge of administering the elections will be obliged to provide for

undisturbed attendance/observing of the election by foreign and local observers (Article 111dj, LECR).

< The work of the election administration bodies is public (Article 22, LECR).

Electoral System for the Municipal Assembly

Councilors are elected by the proportional representation, which means that the number of Municipal Assembly mandates won by the coalition or political party – participators in the election contest – is in proportion to the number of votes cast for them. Only the electoral lists that have won at least 3% of the votes of the total number of voters who have voted in one electoral constituency take part in the allocation of mandates (Article 94).

Each municipality creates one electoral constituency.

Political Parties and Candidates

Political parties registered in the Republic of Montenegro, either sepatately or jointly, as well as groups of citizens, nominate candidates for their own electoral list. An electoral list should contain no less than one-third, and no more than the total number of candidates to be elected.

The electoral list for the election of councilors is submitted to the MEC at least 20 days

prior to the day of calling for elections and no later than 25 days before the day prescribed as the Election Day (Article 46).

The electoral list for the election of councilors has to be supported by at least 1% of

electors, out of the total number of electors in the constituency according to the Voter’s Register of the last elections. Political parties or groups of citizens representing Albanians in Montenegro are the exception: their electoral list for the election of councilors is deemed confirmed if supported by at least 200 (two hundred) electors (Article 43). Electors signing electoral lists have to be permanent residents of the respective municipality. An elector may support with its signature only one electoral list (Article44).

The chairman of the election commission determines by drawing lots the order of

candidates on the general electoral list. Therefore, the competent election commission shall publicize the general electoral list not later than 15 (fifteen) days prior to polling day (Article 49).

A citizen of Montenegro who has come of age, has been the resident of Montenegro for at

least 24 months and is the resident of the respective municipality for at least 12 months prior to polling day has the right to be elected as a councilor (Article 11).

Allocation of Seats after the Elections

Municipal Election Commission is responsible for establishing the total number of valid

votes each electoral list has won as well as the number of seats belonging to each list. Obtained mandates are to be in proportion to the number of votes obtained (Article 93).

Electoral lists, which have won at least 3% of votes out of the total number of electors

who voted in the polling station, will take part in the allocation of seats in the municipal assembly (Article 94).

In order to explain the process of mandate allocation (Article 95), we will take into

consideration a hypothetical municipality with 14 mandates in the municipal assembly. In that municipality, 20,000 people will cast a vote in that assembly, out of whom 18,403 will vote for four electoral lists, which will obtain more than 3% of the votes. Each vote out of the total number of votes is divided by 1,2,3… up to 14 (the number of councilors in the electoral constituency).

Total

number of votes

Divided by 1

Divided by 2

Divided by 3

Divided by 4

Divided by 5

Divided by 6

List А

7490 7490 3745 2496 1872 1498 1248

List B

6257 6257 3128 2058 1564 1251 1042

List C

3450 3450 1725 1150 862 690 575

List D

1206 1206 603 402 301 241 201

Quotients are put in order by size and mandates are allocated to the highest quotients up until the number of 14 mandates is reached.

Mandate #1 List A 7490 Mandate #8 List A 1872 Mandate #2 List B 6257 Mandate #9 List C 1725 Mandate #3 List A 3745 Mandate #10 List B 1564 Mandate #4 List C 3450 Mandate #11 List A 1498 Mandate #5 List B 3128 Mandate #12 List B 1251 Mandate #6 List A 2496 Mandate #13 List A 1248 Mandate #7 List B 2085 Mandate #14 List D 1206

So List A will obtain six mandates, list B five mandates, List C two and List D one mandate.

A half of obtained mandates is allocated to candidates from the list, according to the

order on the list and the rest of mandates are allocated to the candidates from the list in accordance with the decision of the submitter of the list. Administrative Structure of Elections

The Republican elections in Montenegro will be administered by:

< Republic Election Commission < Municipal Election Commissions, and < A Polling Board for each polling station.

General provisions that apply to all electoral bodies include: < Any submitter of a verified candidate list has the right to appoint an authorized

representative to the election administrative body (Article 18, LECR). < Those serving on election administrative bodies must have the right to vote

(Article 20, LECR). < Election administrative bodies make decisions by a majority of votes of their

members (Article 21, LECR). < The work of the election bodies is public; members of the election bodies and

observers are obliged to act in conformity with the law and the rules of conduct established by the Republic Election Commission (Article 22).

Republic Election Commission (REC)

There are 13 permanent members of the REC, which include: a chair, a secretary and 11 members appointed by the Republican Assembly – all of whom should be lawyers. Two of the 11 regular members are representatives of the two largest opposition parties in the Assembly. Each electoral contestant with a registered candidate list can appoint an authorized representative who participates in the work of the REC and makes valid decisions beginning 15 days before election day. Authorized representatives and permanent members may each have a deputy who replaces them in event of their absence or inability to perform their tasks and duties (Articles 29-31, LECR).

Important responsibilities of the REC related to these elections include:

< Ensure that the election is conducted legally and the provisions of the LECR are uniformly implemented;

< Monitor and offer professional advice on the implementation of the LECR; < Coordinate the work of the Municipal Election Commissions, give instructions

with regard to the implementation of the LECR and supervise their work; < Establish unified standards for the election materials; < Establish the forms for carrying out election procedures provided by the LECR; < Determine the manner of proclamation of candidate lists; < Determine the manner of handling and keeping the election material; < Announce the total number of voters and their number by municipalities and

polling stations.

Municipal Election Commissions (MEC)

There are seven permanent members of each MEC, which include: a chair, a secretary and five members appointed by the Municipal Assembly – all of whom should be lawyers. Each electoral contestant with a registered candidate list can appoint an authorized representative who participates in the work of the MEC and makes valid decisions beginning 15 days before election day. Authorized representatives and permanent members may each have a deputy who replaces them in event of their absence or inability to perform their tasks and duties (Articles 24 and 25,

LECR). Important responsibilities of the MEC include:

< Ensure that the election is conducted legally; < Do logistics for the administration of the election; < Determine polling stations for the election of councilors; < Form polling boards and appoint chairman and members of polling boards; < Determine the number of ballot papers for each polling station, stamp them, and

together with the verified extract from the register of electors deliver them with a written record to the polling boards;

< Determine whether the electoral lists for the election of councilors have been made and submitted in conformity with the LECR;

< Confirm and proclaim the electoral lists for the election of councilors; < Publicize the number of electors in the municipality and by individual polling

stations; < Establish the results of the election of councilors and the number of votes for

each candidate list, as well as the number of seats won by each candidate list for election of councilors;

< Issue certificates to elected councilors; < Publicize the results of the election of councilors; < Submit a report on the results of the election of councilors to the municipal

council; < Submit the data on the results of the election of councilors to the bodies in charge

of the collection and processing of statistical data (Article 27, LECR).

Voters

All citizens of Montenegro are eligible to vote who have reached 18 years on election day, have the business capacity, have been permanent residents of Montenegro for at least 24 months and residents of respective municipality for at least 12 months prior to election day (Articles 11 and 88, LECR).

Each municipality is responsible for maintaining the Register of Electors for the self-

governing unit. Register of Electors is public document. The Secretariat for Development takes care of the Central Register of Electors (Articles 1, 2, 3, 4 of the Law on the Register of Electors – hereinafter LRE). Citizens who are eligible to vote and also those who will gain the right to vote up to election day with regard to their age and residence are included in the Register of Electors. Citizens who are abroad during the elections and those who are attending military service or are taking part in a military exercise and those who are in detention or serving a prison sentence are included in the Register of Electors according to their last permanent place of residence. Only entities that are stripped of business capacity by the court are deleted from the Register of Electors (Article 5, LRE).

The Register of Electors includes the unique ordinal number for each voter, the first name and surname, the date and place of birth, citizenship, the address and the date of last statement of personal residence and unique ID number of voter. If a voter does not have the identity card, i.e. he does not have unique personal number, the number upon which he is in the Register of

Electors is entered. If it is not possible to determine the date of the last report on the elector’s permanent place of residence, his identification number is entered or the date of the last report on the permanent place of residence of one of his parents (Article 7, LRE).

Dissolution of the Polling Board

In the event that any of the following occurs, the Polling Board is to be dissolved and voting is to be repeated:

< A voter does not vote in person; < A voter casts more than one ballot; < Voting is not done in secrecy; < Voting is not done with verified ballot papers; < A voter does not confirm that s/he has taken the election material by signing

his/her name in a separate book of voters; < Someone comes to the polling station carrying arms or dangerous instruments; < Voters waiting in line at the time of closing are not allowed to vote; < The control slip is not found in the ballot box at the start of counting; < A member of the Polling Board tries to influence the decision of the voter; < A member of the Polling Board does not give appropriate attention to providing

conditions for complete secrecy and order of voting; < If alterations to the extract of the Register of Electors is made from the day of its

composition to the day of conducting the election, as well as on election day; < If the number of ballots in the ballot box are larger than the number of voters who

voted.

The polling station can be dissolved in the following circumstance: < If political party symbols or other promotional materials are displayed at the

polling station or within 50 meters.

Our ID card

Center for Democratic Transition is a nongovernmental organization established in

August 2000 with a goal to positively influence and further improve the beginning of democratic processes in Montenegro. This organization gathers mainly young people who try to promote norms and standards accepted in developed democracies. Of course, we support not only the application of the legal and democratic infrastructure in order to have fair and honest elections; but also support further improvement of human rights, rights of the national minorities, transparency of the processes of the privatization and involvement of a vast number of citizens in establishing their full political and civic rights.

In our work so far we monitored the process of local elections in 2000 in Podgorica and Herceg Novi, the Federal elections, which the state body in Montenegro considered illegitimate and which were held in September 2000, the last Parliamentary elections in Serbia, extraordinary elections in April 2001 and elections for displaced persons from Kosovo on the territory of Montenegro in November 2001. All of our observations and analyses were publicly announced and their results were introduced to the relevant domestic and foreign institutions and representatives.

In cooperation with National Democratic Institute (NDI) from Washington, we monitored the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 2000.

In the period from July to December in 2001, we also realized the first part of the project “Open Parliament,” which encourages citizen involvement and visits of an educative character to the Montenegrin Parliament and meetings with representatives. In the next project we have planned to continue with the realization of the project “Open Parliament,” as well as to initiate an Internship program for the students of the Montenegrin University. CDT is also a member of international informal network of NGOs called ENEMO, as well as the Montenegrin network NGO Akcija.