MAURITANIAN RUN-OFF: OBSERVERS SEE CONTINUED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NOUAKCHOTT 001388

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID KDEM MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN RUN-OFF: OBSERVERS SEE CONTINUED
PROGRESS TOWARDS A RETURN TO DEMOCRACY

REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 1365

B. NOUAKCHOTT 1378

C. NOUAKCHOTT 1386

Sensitive but unclassified - Protect accordingly

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(U) SUMMARY
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-- International and national election observers believe the
December 3 second round elections were well run and represent
an improvement over the November 19 polls.

-- Observers credit this to the experience gained during the
November polls, the single ballots, and the additional
training received by poll watchers and election officials
during the interim.

-- Despite improvements to an already very good process,
additional efforts are needed to clarify and relax the
standards under which a ballot is invalidated, enhance the
role of the electoral commission, and provide additional
voter education.

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(SBU) COMMENTS
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-- These elections represent the most significant hurdle the
ruling Military Council has faced in implementing its
democratic transition plan, and it appears the Council has
once again demonstrated its commitment to that plan.

-- It is clear that election officials, from poll workers on
up, placed the need for perfectly clear and honest elections
as their top concern. This in turn limited to a small degree
some Mauritanians' ability to have their vote counted, a
valid issue that needs to be addressed in future elections,
but does not take away from the resounding success of these
elections.

End Summary and Comments.


1. (U) Mauritania completed a second round of legislative
elections December 3 to decide the remaining 52 National
Assembly seats not won during the November 19 first round
polls (ref B). Post sent out nine observation teams of U.S.
and Mauritanian personnel to track the process and compare
findings with the November 19 polls. Post will analyze the
results of the elections septel.

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CONTINUED ELECTORAL PROGRESS
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2. (U) Post's observation teams, as well as international
observers from the EU, UN, African Union, the Francophonie
organization, Arab League, and NDI, as well as the national
observers' organization, concur that these second round
elections were an improvement over the November 19 polls,
which all agreed had been well executed (ref A). Observers
reported an improved flow of voters through the polling
station, as well as enhanced voter awareness of the voting
procedures. Poll workers were more efficient, both in
processing voters, as well as in counting ballots after
voting had ended.


3. (U) Observers noted that poll workers were "scrupulous" in
counting ballots, closely following the stringent guidelines
for designating ballots as either valid or invalid. These
guidelines call for poll workers to disregard voter intent
and invalidate ballots on which voters made the slightest of
mistakes. At the same time, observers did see some
differences in interpretation of the guidelines. While this
standard may need to be adjusted to reduce the rate of
invalidated ballots, poll workers did their best to follow
the standard diligently.


4. (U) Observers credited the procedural improvements to the
experience gained during the November 19 polls and additional
training received by poll watchers and election officials
during the interim. In a majority of polling stations
observed, the polling staff had not changed, and voters were

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able to return to the same polling stations they had visited
on November 19. As such, poll workers and voters knew what
to expect, and how best to fulfill their respective roles.


5. (U) As was the case on November 19, candidate
representatives closely monitored the process.
Representatives repeatedly credited the National Democratic
Institute (NDI) with having offered extensive poll watcher
training.

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NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS
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6. (U) Additional improvements need to be made to clarify and
relax the standards under which a ballot is invalidated,
enhance the electoral reporting template, and condense the
instructions for poll workers to make the process easier to
follow. Additionally, observers agree that the role of the
National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) needs to be
enhanced. Additional voter education also remains critical.


7. (U) The UN will sponsor a meeting with all election
observation teams on December 7 to discuss findings, after
which it will undertake working level discussions with GIRM
officials aimed at securing those changes.
Twining