STATE ELECTION COMMISSION

STOP

FAMILY AND PROXY VOTING

Skopje, December 2010

This is a product of the:

Centre for Research and Policy Making and the State Electoral Commission

The Strategy is a product of the project My vote my decision, which is being implemented by the Center for Research and Policy Making in partnership with the Women Civic Initiative ANTICO and supported by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights of the European Commission. Project coordinator: Marija Risteska, PhD Sanja Vrbek, MES Project assistant: Bashkim Bakiu, MA Analyst: Ana Mickovska Raleva, MPhill Communications officer: Riste Zmejkoski

We would like to appreciate to all the participants involved in the consultative process about the analysis. The list of consulted institutions and organizations is annexed to the strategy. Layout: Stefan Nikolovski | stefannikolovski@yahoo.com

Published by: Center for Research and Policy Making Cico Popovic 6-2/9 1000, Skopje l/fax +389 3109932 www.crpm.org.mk | crpm@crpm.org.mk

CONTENTS
1 Introduction 1.1. Reasons for developing a Strategy against family and proxy voting 1.2 Goal of the Strategy 2 Analysis of the Situation 2.1 Previous activities 2.2 Problems identified 2.3 Factors of influence 2.4 Target groups 3 Action platform in mastering the family and proxy voting problem 4 Anex List of consulted stakeholders in the process of making the Strategy against family and proxy voting 1 1 5 6 6 7 9 15 17

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Center for Research and Policy Making and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

Strategy against family and proxy voting

INTRODUCTION
1.1. Reasons for developing a Strategy against family and proxy voting

Ever since 1998, when they were noticed for the first time, family and proxy voting have been seen as negative features of the election process in Macedonia. These phenomena undermine the democratic capacity of the country and make it impossible for elections to be carried according to the democratic and international standards. The State Election Commission (further: SEC) recognizes this problem as a matter of great importance, which should be handled appropriately and efficiently until it is eradicated. The current condition impairs the free exercise of the rights of particular group of citizens (these are mostly marginalized women from the rural parts in western Macedonia). Consequently, it has a negative impact on their equal status, as well as on their unhindered practice of civil and democratic rights. At present, there is no strategy that would lay down a clear and definite framework for addressing this problem. Measures that have been undertaken untill now were only the ones initiated by foreign donors in cooperation with the relevant institutions. To insure its leadership position in fighting the problem and to allow sustainability of the measures undertaken for this matter, the SEC has initiated the process of formulating a National Strategy against Family and Proxy Voting1. Its aim is to ensure a consistent framework for all government and donor projects that address the family and proxy voting problem. The National Strategy has been created through a transparent and participative process. At the same time, it aimed to involve all relevant factors at its production, as well as to integrate all aspects and factors causing the problem.
1 The National Strategy against Family and Proxy Voting came out of the project My vote My decision, stop the family and proxy voting, financed by the European Commission through the Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) in partnership with the Center for Research and Policy Making, the Women Civic Initiative - Antico and the State Election Commission (SEC).

STOP family and proxy voting

1.2. Goal of the Strategy

The Strategy against family and proxy voting is a general document that expresses the intention of the SEC policy to surpass the problem of family and proxy voting. It builds upon the experiences of the previous projects in the field. Its goal is to provide a framework of continuous activities that will be actualized directly or indirectly by all the concerned parties and to adequately address the causes of this problem for the period 2010-2012, i.e. till the next parliamentary elections. Therefore, the Strategy responds to the expectations that this problem must be dealt continuously, way before the election cycle take place. The Strategy promotes these values: Participation, which reflects itself in the involvement of all concerned parties in the process of producing, delivering and implementing the Strategy; Equal opportunities for all people (men and women) in free exercise of their voting rights; Sustainability or feasibility and continuity in the process dealing with the problem of family and proxy voting; Leadership, recognized in the role of SEC as a leading and coordinating actor in the processes of implementing the Strategy and at the same time influencing and stimulating all concerned parties to contribute in the effectiveness and success of the Strategy. This Strategy has three specific goals: 1. To provide detailed analysis of the condition regarding the factors which influence the occurrence of the problem, as well as of the successes or failures of the former activities in surmounting it. 2. To provide action platform in dealing with the problem. It resembles an action plan that envisions activities, expected results and achieved impacts with the implementation of the mentioned activities. This action plan is not a wish list , but a concrete agenda proposing feasible activities that will be implemented not only by SEC, but also by partner institutions and organizations. In this matter SEC is going to be responsible for the coordination of the activities mentioned in the action plan, for monitoring and evaluating the implementation as well as for suggesting revision of the action plan every year, according to the data obtained by following and evaluating of the implementation. 3. To serve as a platform for cooperation with different stakeholders that will appear as partners of SEC in the Strategys implementation.

Strategy against family and proxy voting

ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION

For a while, Macedonia cannot overcome the negative assessments of the electoral process in terms of enabling a permanent and free voting in certain election districts. This state of affairs is commonly registered in the reports of OBSE/ODIHR2, by the parliamentary elections observation missions of the European Council, as well as from the international reports that inform about the status of women3 etc.

Family and proxy voting became noticeable at the beginning of the 1990s, as a negative trait of the Central and Eastern Europes4 newly formed democracies facing the huge challenge of transition from communist regime to plural liberal democracy. This Strategy uses the term family voting as defined by the Council of Europe. It refers to the practice of a male heads of family influencing other family members, in particular women, in the course of voting. Family voting occurs in three ways: by a male family member accompanying one of more women relatives into a polling booth group voting; family groups voting together in the open open voting; and a male family member obtaining ballot papers on behalf of family members- principally female relatives, and marking them as he sees fit proxy voting

2.1. Previous activities

In the last seven years around 15 projects aiming to deal (among other things) with the family and proxy voting problem have been implemented. The activities have reached directly to 100.000 people through educative workshops, focus groups, direct door-to-door approach etc. Almost all projects included indirect measures of approaching to the target
2 Statement of preliminary findings and conclusions, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Presidential and Municipal Elections, First Round - 22 March 2009, International election observation mission; Statement of preliminary findings and conclusions, Election Observation Mission The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Presidential and Municipal Elections, Second Round, 5 April 2009; etc. UN Commission for Elimination of Women Discrimination, Closing comments of the Commission for Elimination of Women Discrimination: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, February 3th 2006. Consolidated response on the prevention of family voting, International knowledge network of women in politics.

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STOP family and proxy voting

group, for instance through campaigns for raising the public awareness about the problem. This approach used primarily informative flyers as a means for reaching out to the public, but sometimes involved also more complex activities, such as contents delivered by the mass media (TV and radio advertisements, etc). Nevertheless, the number of citizens to whom the message has reached cannot be precisely determined, because such evaluation of the activities influence has never been made. Most of the regions covered with these activities are located in the western part of Macedonia (Tetovo, Tearce, Zelino, Debar, Rostuse, Struga etc.) where the family voting problem occurs most frequently, according to the reports of the civic associationMOST and SEC. But, part of the activities were conducted also in eastern Macedonia (for example, Sveti Nikole), although there have not been any officially registered cases of family voting. The latest project I have a right to vote civic education for women and children and One voter one vote implemented by UNDP in the 2007-2009 period had the following goals: (i) to raise the question of family and proxy voting within the political agenda through seminars series on high level with the relevant factors; (ii) to increase the capacity of the authorized institutions that work on the elections as well as of other participators that influence the process; (iii) to raise the voters awareness. Noticeable about the projects dealing with this problem in the last 7 years is that they put an accent on the awareness raising issue and work with the marginalized groups, potential victims of family voting. However, the issue of family and proxy voting is usually raised before elections, when solid public response is achieved. The UNDP activities were successful, especially in the part of raising the question on the political agenda and its actualization. The shortcomings of the projects made in the past few years about this issue is planned to be overcome with the Strategys proposed activities that refer mainly to: (i) limited coverage of the political parties as factors/abettors that influence the family and proxy voting phenomenon; (ii) including election rights contents within the civic education in the high schools; (iii) strengthening the sanctions.

2.2 Problems identified

The undertaken activities most often imply direct approach to the target group, accompanied with awareness raising campaigns by distributing promoting materials etc. Nevertheless, there is usually a lack of systematic evaluation of the effects of such activities . The achieved results are given either in a technical format (e.g. XX women informed about their voting rights, XX flayers distributed etc.) or arbitrarily (e.g. the women are more aware about their rights as voters), without being measured and without evaluating the influence of the activities . Pre- and post-evaluation, which would accurately assess what the program effects are, is not made. Another problem that is encountered is the lack of interest of the media. The public awareness campaigns are mostly accepted by the media (with no need of financial compensation) in the period just before the elections, while the issue is not considered to be interesting in the non-election periods, although continuous reporting and promoting of the subject is crucial for the change of the attitudes and habits.

Strategy against family and proxy voting

The dissonant action of the system institutions about the problem is often seen as a difficulty in actualizing the activities and following the effects. Same goes for the negligence of the issue evident in its sweeping under the carpet and not paying attention to dealing with it. Likewise, the problem of reaching out to the most marginalized groups of women is often highlighted as a key factor, so it is not clear if the persons covered with the activities are in fact members of such groups. The informative materials that are distributed as flyers or printed messages on items are often in written form, what hinders the message to get through to the illiterate, who are most affected with this problem. Also, they usually speak to the women , underestimating the role of men as instigators of the problem. Given that most covered places with the activities are those in rural areas, the impression is that urban settlements are omitted, which are also inhabited by marginalized groups (for example, Gypsies), as well as those regions where proxy voting pressured by the political parties is noticed. The political parties, although recognized as one of the main initiators of the problem, have not been involved as a group in the projects. Besides the Code for fair and democratic elections that has been signed by all political parties in Macedonia and which condemns the practice of family and proxy voting, within different projects female parliamentary representatives were approached discussing the problem as a women issue, there are no activities that would involve the higher instances from the parties in the process. Another deficiency can be stressed here, namely that the participation of the female representatives was limited to forums, held on a higher level and therefore had no impact on the marginalized groups, potential victims of the family or proxy voting. The position and the authority of the female representatives, although is a positive example for women success story, were not utilized for the purpose of delivering the message to the most marginalized women in rural areas. When we talk about the direct approach to the target groups, the duration of the activities in the form of trainings or forums is often short and lasts no longer than one day and is insufficient for achieving serious goals, for example, changing the attitude of the people included within the activities. On the other hand, it is not clear if the media campaigns, which are intended to constantly discuss the issue, reach the target group at all, and even more important, it is not clear whether they are properly understood. Additionally, the complete duration of the projects is relatively short, which hinders in achieving greater effects, as well as securing enough time for valuation of the influence. It can be noticed that there is a lack of activities undertaken for achieving sustainability of the projects (e.g. involving the activities in the state institutions programs) and a lack of actual mechanism in monitoring the progress. Therefore, a recommendation for the future is to work in collaboration with the authorized institutions in order to secure budget resources for continuous training, awakening of the public opinion and including larger number of institutions working on the problem.

STOP family and proxy voting

2.3 Factors of influence

This phenomenon of family and proxy voting is often ascribed to post-conflict societies, divided by ethnic, regional and social differences5. In such context most group members are voting for a candidate from their own community/group to protect themselves from the others. Usually, in the rural parts of these societies a prominent group representative, who is supported and respected among their own, decides which candidate should be supported by the citizens of that place. Family and proxy voting thus becomes a safe tool for delivering electoral support. In this sense, the pressure from the community/group imposed on its members, intended to hold the group as compact as possible, is considered to be stronger than the value of the secrecy of the voting process for them. At this point another problem emerges - the level of internal democracy in the political parties, which are the main generator of the problem. Namely, the less party hierarchy there is, there are also less expectations that the local powerful persons will try to prove themselves in front of their leaders with the number of votes they have collected in their districts. So the election violence (and family and proxy voting are considered as such type) will be replaced with the power of the arguments in front of the electorate, but inside the party structure not by implying electoral violence in order to gather votes. In the case of Macedonia we can recognize most of the aforementioned factors: deeply divided society along ethnic lines, which is reflected on the political scene, patriarchal rural areas where women are disadvantaged compared to men due to their unfavorable social and economic position, intra-party democratic deficiency (a common characteristic for all of them is the administration of a strong leader who practices their power from above). The table mirrors the exact picture of the factors that influence the family voting problem and the measures undertaken by now for its preventing and eliminating.

Ibid.

Strategy against family and proxy voting

Factor6

Possible measures for improvement 7 Reforming the electoral legislation in the direction of strengthening the mechanisms for ensuring that voting will be secret and inviolable; adopting a regulation that determines the access to the polls as well as acts that claim voting as personal and that only one person can stand behind the polling booth; strictly forbidding open voting; establishing easy implemented sanctions for the violators who practice family voting, open voting and all other activities, which intrude the voting secrecy or try to influence the voter in any other way; training the election administration for implementing the new procedures etc.

Temporary situation in Macedonia The Macedonian election legislative is generally positively evaluated in terms of guaranteeing the secrecy and inviolability of the voting (a. 3; a. 40; a. 273 etc. from the Criminal Code). The main problem is recognized in the inefficient implementation of the law in this part.8 Article 107 strongly forbids voting for other person (except for the cases anticipated by the law, article 112). Article 108 clearly states that the voters approach for voting one by one. Because of some allegations of cellular phones and camera misuse at the last elections 2009, SEC9 has forbidden their use in the polls. However the implementation of this instruction is hard to follow. 10 With the Criminal law (a. 160; 161; 163) and the Election law (a. 191) there are sanctions considered for any cases of family and proxy voting. The main problem here is the inefficient sanctioning. One of the reasons is the disproportion between the sanctions considered and actual offence. It leads to the situation that judges are unwilling to impose a penalty in these cases. However, many times the election committees are the culpable ones, because they dont react in a situation when the voting secrecy is being disrupted.

7 8 9

10

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Weak electoral legislative framework, which hinders the possibility of having a strong and adequate protection mechanism for preventing family voting as well as other violations of the election process

These factors are based in these documents: Family and Proxy voting in Macedonia; ACE project, The electoral knowledge network, last visited on 18.05.2010. http://aceproject.org/electoral-advice/archive/questions/replies/77098994 Ibid. Consolidated response on the prevention of family voting, International knowledge network of women in politics. Instructions for voting, State Electoral Commission; http://www.sec.mk/images/upatstva_pravilnici/UPATSVO_ZA_ GLAS JE-06.03.2009.pdf Prof. Gordana Siljanovska, Viktor Ulom, Sabit Kranli, Vanja kori; Comment on the election legislative; Civic association MOST; 2009; p. 152.

STOP family and proxy voting

Factor

Possible measures for improvement Improvement of the electoral procedures, clear definition of the forbidden and punishable acts, clear definition of the entry in the polls, issuing one ballot paper per voter, allowing approach to the polling booth only to one person at a time. Improvement of the electoral administration professionalism by maintaining trainings and capacity building activities. Production of informative materials for the electoral administration, in order to distribute them at the polls: it will send clear message that certain acts are forbidden by law; production of posters/ stickers that will be placed in the polling places and will deliver the following messages: voters will be served one at a time, only one voter at a time can stand at the polling booth.

Temporary situation in Macedonia At this moment a working group of the Ministry of Justice, comprised of Ministry members and experts on elections is working on amendments to the election law. These amendments should strengthen the mechanism that guarantees secret and inviolable voting. Within the UNDP program One vote one voter, trainings were conducted for the electoral administration.

Weak implementation by the electoral authorities; lack of trained representatives; enabling violations of the principle of secrecy, individualism and the freedom of choice due to the lack of adequate and just implementation of eletoral procedures

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Strategy against family and proxy voting

Factor

Possible measures for improvement Implementation of a broad educational campaign that will reach out to the wider public: it should be in a position to reach the illiterate voters by television, radio etc. With this action a message will be sent that no one can influence the way people vote; and will use clear, direct and persuasive slogans such as your decision is exclusively yours; your vote is secret; no one will know how you vote; you can vote only in person; only one voter at a time is allowed to approach the polling booth; your vote is your decision, not a decision of your husband.

Temporary situation in Macedonia Since 2002 till today (with special concentration of activities in the period of 2008-2009) several awareness-raising campaigns have been carried, addressing the marginalized groups, especially for women from the rural areas, where family and proxy voting occurred. It is hard to evaluate the effects of the campaigns, but generally it can be pointed out that the campaigns were largely focused on the female population, whereas the men were omitted despite being an important factor; the outreach of the campaigns has had limited impact in terms of getting in touch with the largest number marginalized women and men, who are most affected with this problem. A qualitative evaluation of the implemented campaigns is missing. Id should provide estimation of the changing consciousness within these groups

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Lack of awareness of the vulnerable parts of the electorate about the principles and the rights of secret voting and freedom of choice.

STOP family and proxy voting

Factor

Possible measures for improvement Utilization of the political parties legitimacy for eradication of the problem. Solutions can be found in improving the internal democracy in the parties, as well as making them more sensitive regarding gender issues. Especially important in this part will be the role of women who have already succeeded in politics. They will have to provide a positive example and encourage the self-confidence of the women voters.

Temporary situation in Macedonia Most of the political parties have procedures that regulate the internal democratic process. Nevertheless, the party presidents still play the dominant role in the parties. The participation of men in politics and in parties leadership in comparison to that of women is still unbalanced. There is a trend of enhancing the role of women in most of the political parties. It is seen in the fact that most of them have appointed women to the positions of coordinators of the parliamentary groups. Female parliamentary representatives have participated in electorate awareness raising campaigns about the problem of family and proxy voting. Until now, the parties themselves have not taken any measures in the battle against the family and proxy voting.

Political parties as instigators of this problem

Factor Low awareness level of the electorate about its voting rights

Possible measures for improvement Continuous education on democratic values is needed, with an emphasis on the meaning of the elections in a democratic society. The involvement of the youngest, the pupils, is the most effective way for achieving long-term results. With the increased level of education on election rights, it is expected the problem to be solved. The research undertaken on educated women has shown that the attempts to affect or interfere their voting right are diminished or non-existent.

Temporary situation in Macedonia Education about the democratic values, especially about the meaning of the elections for a democratic society, has begun. Non-governmental organizations with the financial support of the EU and other donors are implementing activities. Introduction of election rights as subject in the curriculum for primary and high school can lead towards creation of an environment that systematically does not allow influences on the individuals right to vote.

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Strategy against family and proxy voting

The most problematic part of the former approach was that it was led by the foreign donors and the NGO sector, with formal involvement of the authorized institutions, but without their substantial influence on the process. SEC recognizes that a mindset change must happen in order that satisfactory results can be achieved and the state institutions as bearers of change should be aware about it. These changes can only be achieved in cooperation of the state institutions with the donors, NGO sector and the political parties. According to the analysis made and the influencing factors and activities, SEC has defined the ultimate beneficiaries of the National Strategy against family and proxy voting.

2.4. Target groups

1. Election administration

The election administration will be properly trained about the rights and obligations during the election process, as well as about the mechanism for protection of the voting inviolability and secrecy. The already prepared materials will be used, after being properly adjusted to bring closer the theory to the election administration, using simulations and exercises to complement the theory.

2. Political parties

Several steps will be undertaken considering the political parties: first, work will be done on achieving gender sensitivity, from the aspect of their foundation, structure and functioning; second, they will be stimulated to become major driving force in eradication of the problem. Their members should take proactive role in spreading the message against family and proxy voting among the electorate. Especially active contribution in this second segment will be expected from the female party members, who should reach out to the marginalized groups of women by different types of activities on the ground and in the media.

2. Pupils/ Students

Students will be educated about the democratic values, especially about the meaning of the elections for a democratic society, is seen as a basis. The follwing themes must be necessarily incorporated in the high school curriculum, as a part of the already existent subjects: voting principles, ways of proper voting, meaning of the regular elections for the democratic society, reasons for and dealing with election irregularities.

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STOP family and proxy voting

3.Marginalized groups (men and

women)

Organized awareness raising campaigns for the marginalized groups. It is especially important for the campaigns not to be concentrated exclusively on women, but on men as well. The campaigns will result from the previous activities evaluation and based on the lessons learned from successful approaches. Thus the campaigns level will be improved and will aim towards more distinctive and thriving results.

4. Media

The media should be more active in terms of delivering the messages against family voting during elections, but as well in the time between electoral cycles, when this problem is not very appealing. In this sense, they should play educative role in delivering the call to cherish democratic values, raising the voters self-confidence etc.

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Strategy against family and proxy voting

ACTION PLATFORM FOR MASTERING THE PROBLEM OF FAMILY AND PROXY VOTING
NATIONAL STRATEGY AGAINST FAMILY AND PROXY VOTING Target >>> Securing a comprehensive and continuous approach in solving the family and proxy voting problem, which should bring efficient results regarding all of the involved target groups Time frame >>> 2010-2012

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STOP family and proxy voting

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Project Democratization of political parties ____________ Improvement of the gender equality in political parties ____________ Active participation of the political parties in the elimination of the family and proxy voting

Activities 1. Analysis of internal democracy in the political parties (structure, decision making, representation) 2. Activities to reform the acts that internally regulate the political parties, according to the analysis and the recommendations for democratization 3. Gender analysis of the political parties (strategic documents, plans for gender equality improvement, assessment of the gender sensitivity in the parties) 4. Gender sensitivity training for the political parties (focus both on the male and female party members; training embracement on all parties levels, especially the higher ones) 5. Field and media activities of the parties representatives with a goal to raise the awareness for combating family and proxy voting, as well as their relation to the electorate.

Target group Political parties

Qualified institutions as implementers Profit and non-profit organizations Political parties (NGOs, Universities, Consultancy companies, Political foundations etc.)

Expected results/effects 1. Establishing principles of internal democracy in the political parties 2. Raising the level of consciousness in political parties for the need of gender sensitivity approach in their functioning 3. Raising their consciousness level about their proactive role in combating family and proxy voting (emphasizing the problem on platforms, in their speeches in front of the citizens etc.) 4. Actual activities undertaken by the political parties in direction of delivering the message for family and proxy voting prevention

Indicators for measuring the success - Quality of the strategic documents regarding their gender aspect, plans for gender equality improvement within the parties - Accepted and integrated suggestions for integrating the gender sensitive principles - Number of participants at the training (including men and women) - Quality training (inside and outside evaluation of the trainings) - Number and type of activities of the parties representatives - Position and gender of the representatives that participated in the field and media activities

6. Making and broadcasting a video advertisement in which examples of successful women politicians will be presented (from all political parties), to raise the self-confidence of the female voters. (The video will review the reasons for entering into political waters, dealing with problems which women face, etc. The video should be carefully prepared and it is of great importance to avoid party advertising, stressing party success or failures of the political rivals)

- Media presentation of the video - Quality of the video - Clearly delivered message by the video

Project Raising the awareness among marginalized groups of citizens victims or potential victims of family and proxy voting

Activities

Target group

Qualified institutions as implementers

Expected results/effects - Campaign coverage of the largest number of marginalized layers of women and men - Raised awareness of the problem and improved knowledge of the election rights

Indicators for measuring the success - Number of organized trainings with women and men - Number of women and men that have attended the trainings

Marginalized wom- Non-profit organiza1. Trainings with marginalized tions women and men (specially targeted) en and men from the election districts where family - Trainings with women. For this Local institutions and proxy voting purpose the main topic of the was registered as discussion will be the issue question a problem of special interest to the women, on topics such as women health issues, looking after the children etc., after what a discussion about political and civic rights can be raised, with focus on the election rights and obligations. - Organized trainings for men, which in creative way, by meeting in the local communities or organizations where the majority is comprised of male members (agricultural, craftsmen etc.), sets a discussion on topics of their interest. The discussion will be directed towards the issue political and civil rights and focused on election rights and obligations. 2. Field awareness raising campaigns, door to door approach principle, properly made promotion materials

- Demographic structure of the trainings - Significant decreasing participants of the family and proxy voting percentage on - Quality of the trainthe next election ings - Quality of the promoting material - Number of election irregularities (family and proxy voting) on the next elections

Project Raising the awareness and creating skills for appropriate handling of the election irregularities by the election administration

Activities Trainings with the election administration dealing with family and proxy voting, comprised of: - Adapted training material on a language simplified and suitable according to the needs of the election administration - Focus on practical exercises and simulations during the training - Including representatives of all political parties that will participate in the election committees structure Trainings for the election administration, public prosecutors office and the courts that are to implement sanctions against family and proxy voting: - Training for trainers - Training for discovering cases, filing of criminal charges, securing documentation and prosecuting cases of family and proxy voting

Target group Election administration

Qualified institutions as implementers SEC, in cooperation with NGOs, consultancy companies etc.

Expected results/effects - Appropriate materials in terms of their approach and the language used , intended to be acceptable and understandable for the election administration - Quality (long term) training of the whole election administration - Training participation by the parties representatives who participate in the work of the election committees.

Indicators for measuring the success - Quality training materials - Training that covers the whole election administration - Effect of the training (by following the work of the election administration on the next elections) - Number of election irregularities on the next elections

Project Properly addressed problem of the family and proxy voting as part of the curriculum for civic education

Activities

Target group

Qualified institutions as implementers Ministry of education and science, Education development office, high schools in cooperation with subject experts

Expected results/effects - Preparation of analysis that will provide adequate and practical recommendations for the most appropriate integration of the developed materials in the curriculum. - Supplementing the materials with several interactive methods (discussions, simulations etc.) - Enacting a decision on the integration of the developed materials in the curriculum and its implementation.

Indicators for measuring the success - Quality of the analysis/ assessment for integrating the developed materials in the curriculum - Decision taken by the relevant institutions - Quality of the decisions Implementation - Level of following the recommendations given in the analysis/assessment, considering the implementation

- Estimation and recommendation High school about the way the prepared UNDP pupils materials should be integrated in the curriculum for the high schools. - Introducing the materials in the curriculum for the high schools.

Project

Activities

Target group

Qualified institutions as implementers Profit/non-profit institutions (Consultancy companies, NGO, experts etc.)

Expected results/effects - Wider focus on the family and proxy voting problem - Reporting without stereotypes - Educational approach

Indicators for measuring the success - Number of news that cover the problem of family and proxy voting - Way and quality of reporting

Training of Training of journalists from the Journalists journalists about politics desks of national and local the elections issue media in order to prepare them to be able to report on the elections properly, adequately and in a neutral manner, overcoming stereotypes

Project Media campaign against family voting on local level

Activities

Target group

Qualified institutions as implementers Local media

Expected results/effects - Raised awareness of the local population from the election districts - Population informed about the gravity of the problem, as well as of the consequences and the sanctions that follow

Indicators for measuring the success - Press clipping - Level of ratings

____________

Local Joint campaign led by the local media on the territory of the election population districts where family voting took place. Besides video and radio clips, the campaign should tackle the issue in the informative programs (debates and discussions) as well as to ensure discussion of the issue in the programs that are not exclusively informative.

National media campaign

Campaign on three national televisions (Albanian and Macedonian) which will consist of broadcasting several video clips throughout a longer period of time. The broadcasting of the video materials should be accompanied with discussion of the issue also in programs that are not exclusively political/informative (i.e. contact shows, daily and morning programs, debates etc.)

The whole population of Macedonia

Media/productions

Raised awareness on national level In-depth and long-term treatment of the issue (the brief reporting about the problem on the election day should be thus avoided)

Valuation of the audience inclusion in case there are contacts shows

STOP family and proxy voting

ANEX LIST OF CONSULTED STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE STRATEGY AGAINST FAMILY AND PROXY VOTING
Non state actors NGO Beka center MOST Antiko Akcija Zdruzenska Political parties DUI lPM DS VMRO-DPMNE Association of Roma DOM PEI DPSM SDSM

State actors Ministry of interior Ministry of labor and social policy State electoral commission Ministry of justice Ministry of education and science Parliament of Republic of Macedonia Coordinator of the women Parlament members club

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[ ]
CIP- . , 342.841 (497.7) 343.415 (497.7) STRATEGY against family and proxy voting of the state election commission. Skopje : Center for research and policy making, 2010. 25 . : : 20 . My vote my decision ISBN 978-608-4586-16-6 a) COBISS.MK- ID 86149898

This project is funded by the European Union