VOTER EDUCATION ON ELECTORAL SYSTEM

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VOTER EDUCATION ON ELECTORAL SYSTEM

• By Mr Andrew Trawen, MBE Electoral Commissioner
• Papua New Guinea

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Introduction

• Purpose
• Contents
• Outcomes

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Overview and challenges of the electoral system

• Population over 5 million 2.5 million voters
• PNG very diverse
• Over 800 languages
• Mountains and Islands
• Infrastructure challenges
• Human development challenges
• One size does not fit all when educating voters
• Limited resources
• Need a combined approach to voter education

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Overview of electoral system

• PNG constitutional democracy
• From FPTP to LPV
• Benefits of LPV
• Complex system so voter education imperative

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Voter education so far

• Capacity to work with civil society enhanced
  through AusAID funding undertake under ESP
• Communication strategy has been developed to
  guide voter education PNGEC activities and
  civil society groups
• 34 groups funded so far approximately 5 million
  kina allocated
• Communications advisory group oversees the
  strategy and the funding of groups

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Case Study background

• Meri I Kirap Sapotim (MIKS) was established in
  Simbu after the 2002 National Elections
• Founders were Sarah Garap, Anna Golan and Diana
  Uran
• It was established because of the aftermath of
  the 2002 National Election

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Map to show Highlands region
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Objectives of the funded voter education projects
in MIKS

• To increase voters knowledge about the election
  process so they can participate
• To ensure women can contribute fully to the
  election process by having greater awareness
  about the system
• To increase understanding about the LPV system
  and its role in electing good leaders
• To increase understanding within the community of
  good governance and how the electoral process
  contributes to this
• To decrease the risk of the spread of HIV and
  AIDS during the election period

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Project 1 description Chuave by-election 2006

• Completed within one-month actual awareness took
  one week
• Activity cost K9880
• Collaborative process including police and other
  civil society groups
• Project team of 12 experienced people went across
  the whole province running mock elections and
  through public meetings
• Trained candidates, supporters and scrutineers
  23 candidates attended and 48 scrutineers
• They covered three local level government areas.
  A total of 7403 people heard about LPV and good
  governance through this one week program

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Project 1 outcomes Chuave by-election

• It did increase awareness across the electorate
  nearly 1/5 of the population covered in one week.
  All candidates and many supporters covered.
• However, more time was needed for people to fully
  understand the system
• There was the unlooked for benefit of
  collaboration between PNGEC, police and civil
  society a model for the future

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Project description 2 Train the trainer
program, elections 2007

• Activity cost K198,000
• Length of activity 7 months
• Two lots of train the trainer workshops 250
  people trained across the five provinces
• These trainers would then go back to their local
  areas and spread the messages they learned
• Monthly newsletters covering voter education
  messages
• Use of the radio to spread the messages
• T-shirts, banners and fact sheets developed
• Highlands highway billboards with governance
  messages coming out of the training process

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Project 2 actual outcomes so far Train the
training program, elections 2007

• Training has occurred in each of the five
  provinces 160 trainers trained so far
• Trainees come from every electorate in the
  Highlands and represent many clan groups,
  including community leaders and grass roots
  villagers
• 15,000 copies of 10 fact sheets on good
  governance and electoral matters distributed,
  monthly newsletter developed, 150 T-shirts
  printed, large banners produced with electoral
  messages, regular weekly radio show running in
  Enga

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Project 2 lessons learned so far Train the
trainer program, elections 2007

• Time has been a major constraint
• Trainees will need additional training on running
  their own awareness
• The full impact will be measured in 20 years time
  entrenched highland norms will take time to
  shift

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Project 3 description Election 2007
Everybodys business ESP training

• 34 groups funded under ESP up to 50 may be
  funded
• ESP developed a training manual to provide
  technical knowledge about the electoral system
  for all groups
• The manual covers good governance, LPV, the
  electoral roll, women and elections, HIV and AIDS
  prevention
• Uses very participative and innovative approaches
  to training
• Trialed with nine different groups with excellent
  feedback
• In the Highlands, Meri I Kirap have been
  contracted to deliver the training for all groups
  funded in that region

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Project 3 outcomes so far Elections 2007
Everybodys business

• ESP and Meri I Kirap have been able to strengthen
  each others manuals through additional material
  and expertise
• Meri I Kirap can deliver the training manual in
  their own languages
• The manual itself receives excellent feedback

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What have we learned from civil society?

• Partnerships with civil society groups can spread
  electoral messages further and more deeply than
  we can by ourselves
• Papua New Guineans are equally concerned the
  elections run smoothly
• One size of voter education does not fit all
• Partnerships with civil society increase our
  flexibility
• It is important for PNGEC to make sure that civil
  society has the right skills and knowledge to
  deliver electoral messages
• We will learn more as we go through elections
  2007 and evaluate the work

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Thank you