Observers of the Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development—REFORM followed this Saturday, 26th of March 2022, the working processes of polling stations for the 2nd phase of local elections in 50 local bodies. Polling and vote counting was held at 315 polling centers containing 1,203 polling stations.
According to the Central Elections Commission's announcement, the general voter turnout reached 53% until 7:00 PM, with the total number of voters in all bodies reaching 377,894 out of 715,413 eligible male and female voters.
REFORM acknowledged the efforts of its observers, the Central Elections Commission’s employees and polling station crews in ensuring the success of the voting and counting processes.
Although observers documented a number of violations, the electoral process went smoothly without fundamental violations that affected the results of the elections and the counting process, which ended within the specified time.
The Association recorded the following set of violations:
• The Central Elections Commission and the municipalities did not remove the election advertisements spread in the 50 districts.
• Election advertising continued in front of polling stations at most of the local bodies, where observers were present.
• Candidates and their representatives attempted to influence voters in most polling stations.
• In the Salahya School in Nablus, the director of the hall refused to count the ballots he received before the start of the poll, under the pretext that there were not any candidates’ representatives present, despite the observers’ request.
• Employees at Salhyah School in Nablus attempted to influence voters to elect the “Azm” list.
• The director of the polling center at Al-Mustaqbal School refused to provide candidates’ representatives and observers with the number of voters.
• A group of cyclists entered Ramallah Girls School Center yard and publicized for “Abna’ Al Balad” list, without being stopped by the security at the polling station's door.
• Observers in Tarqumiya documented the presence of crowds at the polling stations.
• There was not any adherence to safety procedures in Al-Samou’ polling station. The observers documented the presence of overcrowding in a polling station at Ibn Khaldoun School in Al-Samou’. Also, polling stations were not compatible with the elderly’s needs and the observers documented that the polling station staff dealt with voters in an inappropriate manner.
• Observers documented the low number of young voters, especially in cities.
• Supporters of lists crowding in front of polling stations caused traffic, which prevented voters from reaching polling stations.
• Candidates continued conducting electoral publicity inside polling stations.
• The occurrence of arguments between representatives of the lists, as what happened in Idna.
• High rates of political illiteracy where recorded, for instance at Yasser Arafat School in Ya'abad, where observers noticed the presence of dozens of people claiming illiteracy.
• Although the Central Elections Commission announced and confirmed that the centers are suitable for people with disabilities, some places where not suitable, such as the elementary school in Dura in Hebron.
• In the wake of the unfortunate incident in Nablus and the injury of civilians by stray open fire celebrating the election results, the police must control celebrations and prevent shooting completely.
Based on the observations, REFORM calls for the following:
1. The urgent necessity for the Central Elections Commission to obligate all polling stations’ staff to adhere to safety procedures.
2. The importance of defining the locations of the polling stations in advance and setting a strict system for the centers’ directors to prevent the overcrowding of voters in the booths and in front of the polling stations.
3. The Commission must take necessary measures to prevent electoral promotion by candidates or candidates’ representatives inside or in front of the centers.
4. The importance of ensuring the neutrality of polling stations’ employees by setting criteria for their selection and ensuring their commitment.
5. The importance of not bringing telephones into voting booths.
6. Emphasis on the police’s role in controlling traffic in front of polling stations in order to provide the opportunity for all voters, especially the elderly, to reach the polling stations without trouble.
