7500: Election Report now available (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Haiti Reborn <haiti@quixote.org>

NOW AVAILABLE FROM HAITI REBORN/QUIXOTE CENTER:
ELECTIONS 2000: PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY IN HAITI

Prepared By:
Melinda Miles, Coordinator
Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center

with
Moira Feeney, Haiti Program Coordinator
Global Exchange

This full-text of the report is available on the internet at:
www.quixote.org/haiti/elections
You can receive a copy of the report in the mail for a suggested
donation of $10.00 by emailing haiti@quixote.org

The Executive Summary and Table of Contents are included here.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The year 2000 marked a profound year in the development of participatory
democracy in Haiti. The most notable phenomenon of the year’s events was
the population’s consistent will and motivation to participate in the
country’s nascent democratic process. Haitian voters overcame many
obstacles during this year of elections, including a challenging voter
registration drive. Months of struggle and intimidation preceded the May
local and legislative elections. International discontent over the
determination of winners in the May vote resulted in the withdrawal of
aid and observers for the November elections. Even more violence and
intimidation preceded the presidential and partial senatorial elections.
Free, fair and peaceful elections were held despite neglect from the UN,
OAS, and the United States. Haitian voter participation was largely
misrepresented in the international press.

During the electoral process of 2000, five delegations coordinated by
Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center and Global Exchange visited Haiti to survey
the political situation. Each visit included face to face meeting with
representatives from political parties, agencies of the Haitian
government, U.S. and other internationally based agencies, and
representatives from human rights, women, peasant, environmental, youth
and religious groups. During the elections held on May 21 and November
26, Haiti Reborn and Global Exchange coordinated groups of volunteer
observers who composed the International Coalition of Independent
Observers (ICIO).

Participants in the ICIO represent diverse communities and countries.
Most had previous experience working in Haiti and/or with election
monitoring in other countries. The information gathered during visits
that occurred in April, May, October, November and December of 2000,
provide the basis for this report which includes:
? The political context for Haiti’s elections in 2000;
? The role of international agencies in Haiti’s electoral process;
? An in-depth study of the voter registration drive;
? First-hand accounts from both the May and November elections;
? Analysis of the U.S. government, U.S. and international agencies and
the progress of the Haitian democratic process.

Despite substantial barriers such as scrutiny, rather than support, from
the international community – particularly the United States – that was
often unreasonable, and challenges presented by severe illiteracy,
poverty and substandard infrastructure, two elections were successfully
held, both with a large voter turn out rate. It remains to be seen if
the newly elected government will fulfill the hopes of those who voted
it into place. The sophisticated political actors that the people of
Haiti are becoming are the only true judges this new government will
have.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction
 The 46th Legislature and the Composition of the 1999-2000 CEP

Chapter One: The Registration Process and Preparation for May Elections
 I. The Registration Process
Structure of the CEP
System for Registration
The Role of International Agencies
 II. Flaws in the Registration Process
Equipment and Materials
Selection, Training and Payment of BI staff
Length of Registration Period
Lack of Central Data Processing
Obstacles for Eligible Voters
Corruption and Controversy in Registration Process
Conclusion
 III. The Larger Picture: Progress of the Democratic Process
  The Registration Process
  Partisan Politics and the Needs of the People

Chapter Two: May Elections, Preface and Aftermath
 I. Postponements and Threats
 II. Pre-Election Reports
  The Organization of American States
  The International Foundation for Election Systems
  The International Coalition of Independent Observers
 III. The May 21, 2000 Elections
 IV. Post-Election Responses

Chapter Three: Negotiations and the United States
 I. The Opposition Boycott and OAS Negotiations
 II. The Position of the United States
 III. The Larger Picture: Progress of the Democratic Process

Chapter Four: November Elections, Preface and Aftermath
 I. Violence as Elections Approach
 II. The November 26, 2000 Elections
 III. Regional Election Observation
  Department of the North: Cap-Haitien and Milot
  Department of the Artibonite: Gros Morne and Gonaives
  Department of the Grande Anse: Jeremie and its Environs
  Department of the West: Port-au-Prince
 IV. Post Election Reports
 V. Responses to Official Election Results
 VI. International Observer Post-Election Follow-Up

Chapter Five: Conclusions and Recommendations


Appendices
1. Acknowledgements
2. Chronology of Events
3. Definitions of Organizations and Acronyms
4. IFES Update on Electoral Process, October, 1999
5. Haiti Alert on the Registration Process
6. ICIO Pre-Election Report, May 19, 2000
7. ICIO Post-Election Report, May 22, 2000
8. OAS Chief of Mission reports to
Permanent Council on Haiti Elections, July 13, 2000
9. CEP Statement of Clarification, June, 2000
10. Who are/What is the Democratic Convergence?
from Charles Arthur, Haiti Support Group
11. Second Report on the Mission of the OAS to Haiti, October 27, 2000
12. ICIO Statement at Press Conference, November 28, 2000
13. KOZEPÈP’s Statement to the Press, December 4, 2000
14. The ICIO and Its Volunteer Members
15. Statement of U.S. Congressmen Gilman, Helms and Goss,
December 2000