EGYPT: REALIZING PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 007286

SIPDIS

NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2015
TAGS: PGOV KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: REALIZING PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

REF: A. CAIRO 7189 (NOTAL)

B. CAIRO 7155

C. CAIRO 7045

D. CAIRO 6418 (NOTAL)

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Building on specific ideas outlined in ref D, and in
keeping with the overall approach presented in ref C, Embassy
Cairo is working on a series of practical measures that can
be taken to improve the transparency of Egypt's upcoming
parliamentary elections, expected in three stages in
November. Our activities include:


A. Lobbying for GOE invitations to international observers:

-- As discussed in ref A, we are continuing to reach out to
key decision makers to urge that Egypt reconsider its
opposition to the participation of international observers;

-- We are arguing that such invitations (issued in a timely
fashion) will automatically raise the international
credibility of Egypt's process, while forgoing this
opportunity will necessarily detract from Egypt's standing on
the world stage as an emerging democracy;


B. Expanding support for domestic monitors:

-- The role of Egypt's domestic election monitors is one of
the success stories of the September 7 presidential election;


-- The monitoring groups (with USG-funded technical support
and direct grants to offset costs) provided important data
and observations on the process, and were largely accepted by
the public and even regarded by the GOE as playing a positive
role.

-- The groups are poised to reprise and expand their
activities in observing the parliamentary polls and USAID,
MEPI and the grantees are currently working intensely with
domestic groups to ensure they have the capacity and
resources they need to get the job done.


C. Ramping up voter information programs:

-- An important shortcoming of the September 7 process was
the confusion of voters over where, when, and how to vote.
USAID, grantees, and Egyptian partners are working to develop
materials that can be easily and widely disseminated to
provide as many Egyptian voters as possible with clear and
concise information.


D. Pressing for clear and timely information:

-- Key to the success of point C will be the willingness of
the parliamentary elections commission (which has yet to be
constituted) to provide the public and participating
political parties with information on the location of polling
stations and clear (and consistently enforced) i.d.
requirements and procedures for out-of-town voters.

-- We will be pressing the GOE on the need for such
information, and will communicate this to the elections
commission, once it is activated.


E. Moving polling places out of police stations:

-- The Ambassador enlisted the support of Interior Minister
Adly (ref B) for the concept of moving those polling places
currently located in police stations to more politically
neutral locations. We will continue to make this point to
other GOE interlocutors.


F. Offering technical support on ink:

-- A significant, though easily corrected, flaw in the Sept.
7 election was the use by many polling stations of ink that
proved to be easily removed.

-- We will offer to the parliamentary elections commission
technical support and consultations on inks that meet
international standards;


G. Ensuring polling places are free from partisan personnel
and materials:

-- Most if not all polling places on September 7 were draped
with pro-Mubarak posters and banners, hung by enthusiastic
NDP operatives whose presence was felt in and around
virtually every site.

-- We will press the GOE to ensure that all sites are
completely free of partisan materials and to limit the role
of party representatives. Taking this step would mark a
significant improvement over past elections, a point we will
be highlighting in our discussions with the Egyptians.

H. Replacing existing ballot boxes with transparent ones:

-- Clear plastic ballot boxes have become the international
standard and have both practical and symbolic benefits.

-- We will offer to facilitate the GOE's acquisition of such
boxes (including looking for other possible donors),which it
will be able to use in the November parliamentary polls and
in future polls.


I. Urging transparency in the counting process:

-- The parliamentary elections commission should direct
judges to issue interim counts from their individual polling
stations. This would greatly enhance the transparancy and
preclude opportunities for manipulation.

-- The transparency of the counting process would be even
higher if domestic monitors were allowed to observe the
counting;

-- We will press the GOE to get the elections commission to
review counting procedures and seize opportunities to
increase transparency.


Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo

You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.

JONES