Guided by its commitment to promote Good Governance and Democracy through active citizen participation, Actions for Development and Empowerment was awarded its first ever elections observation accreditation from the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT). In preparation of its maiden nationwide observation mission, ADE deployed its 40 accredited observers across the country. These observers were present in all 10 regions of the country, including the Far North, Centre, Littoral, North, Northwest, Adamawa and the West. As part of its capacity building efforts, ADE organized a virtual training session to equip observers with knowledge of the electoral code, election observation standards and how to report election irregularities via the VoteCam application. Overall, the voting process was calm with noticeable citizen participation. Encouragingly, many young voters turned out in their numbers, eager to exercise their civic rights and take part in the country’s electoral decision-making.
The efforts put in place by Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) to ensure adequate and timely arrival of electoral materials were quite commendable. It’s also worth noting that voting was conducted peacefully in most observed polling stations with the presence of defense and security forces ensuring voter safety especially in the Crisis affected Regions. The presence of trained electoral staff, general compliance with procedures,, public and transparent counting of ballots in several localities further contributed to the credibility of the voting process.. Although voting went smoothly in most observed polling stations, some lapses were recorded as there were inconsistencies in the electoral lists where some registered voters were unable to find their names on the list at their designated polling stations. Additionally, delays in the distribution of election materials like badges affected ADE’s deployment, resulting in limited coverage.
In light of these challenges observed during the elections, the following recommendations were proposed to help improve future electoral processes in Cameroon:
General Recommendations.
i. Ensure Accuracy and Updating of Voter Lists: Voter lists must be regularly updated and verified to ensure that all registered voters can cast their ballots without confusion or exclusion. Special attention should be given to new registrations and changes of registration location.
ii. Standardize Infrastructure and Improve Polling Station Accessibility: Polling stations should have standardized infrastructure that is accessible and comfortable for all voters, including the elderly and people with disabilities.
iii. Strengthen Respect for Voting Privacy and Impartiality: Voters should be sensitized and election staff trained to guarantee the secrecy of the vote and the impartiality of the process, avoiding any form of assistance that could influence voters’ choices.
iv. Optimize Crowd Management and Security During Voting and Counting: Adequate and well-trained security forces are necessary to prevent tensions, protect voters and staff, and ensure the smooth conduct of election operations.
v. Guarantee Complete Availability of Ballots: All ballots must be provided in sufficient quantity to allow every voter to vote, thereby avoiding interruptions or disruptions of the electoral process.
