UNMIK/FR/0062/01
FEATURE RELEASE - 17 August 2001

Election preparations

Voter Service teams in place, but halfway through the registration campaign,
clients are still dragging their feet

By David Kahrmann*

Last Monday at the Azem Bejta Primary School, Christian Boswell and his mobile team were conducting their first day of Voter Services (VS) for the people of Kërpimeh/Krpimej and the surrounding villages. Early in the day, there was a flurry of activity as concerned residents came to ensure that they would have no problems on Election Day. Each person spent just a few minutes confirming his or her information with a Voter Service Centre staff member. With every detail confirmed, each one walked out with a printout of his or her information and a small card confirming which Polling Centre to go to on Election Day.
However, after the promising morning, things dropped off considerably later in the day. Perhaps this was because it was just the first day the team was in Kerpimeh and, while posters were up, people were just not thinking about what they should do. Unfortunately, the pattern has been common across Kosovo so far. Many people questioned responded that they did not have time. The reality will be, however, that finding out your Polling Centre from a Voter Service Centre is quick and easy, and will save you considerable time in the end -unless the visit is put off to the last minute.

Kosovo leaders appeal

Kosovo's leaders, as well as the UN and OSCE, have been calling on the electorate to co-operate in ensuring smooth elections that will be seen favourably by the rest of the world. And, to do this, people need to go to Voter Services. All three Kosovo Albanian IAC members have spoken out to encourage people to go to a VS Centre. LDK leader, Ibrahim Rugova, advised everyone: "Honoured citizens, to be registered and to verify your names you should go to a Voter Services Centre for the good of Kosovo." People should not think that just because the elections were successful last year, their civic duty is over. People need to step up and make sure that their names are on the Voters' Lists, says OSCE's Ambassador Daan Everts.

This year, UN has been registering people who came of voting age after the 2000 election or returned to Kosovo from abroad. To actually vote, however, they have first to go to Voter Services to be assigned a Polling Centre for 17 November. With the Voter Services period now halfway finished, the low turnout is thus a cause for concern. "It seems that people do not understand the importance of going to Voter Services. If they don't go to VS, there is a good chance that they may not be able to find their names on the Voters' list on Election Day and this will lead to confusion and longer queues," OSCE Spokeswoman Claire Trevena urges.

For people just registering now, there is always a VS Centre located in the same building as the UN Civil Registration Centre, (or nearby), where the Polling Centre is assigned. Additionally, Mobile Voter Service teams are currently going to the towns and villages of Kosovo to help ensure that this year's Election goes even more smoothly than last year's. In Kerpimeh/Krpimej, Pollatë/Palatna, Zhiti/Žitinje, Shajkovocë/Shajkofc and Sveci/Svelje there were problems on election day last year. Voter Services is visiting those areas to make sure that this year the election process goes more smoothly in those places. In other places, new polling centres will be open this year to permit shorter queues or less travel for voters. In these areas, people need to go to VS centes to be reassigned to a new polling centre. "The success of the election lies with the voters. If they are not certain where to vote, they must come to a Voter Service Centre so that we can have a smooth and orderly Election Day," says Peter Erben, Director, OSCE Election Operations.

In Kerpimeh, even the local shopkeeper urges the importance of smooth elections. "I tell everyone who comes to my shop that they need to check with Voter Services. Last year the queues were too long and this election is very important." he says. Sharing the shopkeeper's opinion Ambassador Everts emphasises, "Let's show the world that everyone is interested in this election." In places like Kerpimeh, the mobile VS team is only in the town for a short period of time. Waiting until the last minute there is not an option. At fixed sites for UN registration and OSCE Voter Services, those who wait until the last minute will undoubtedly face long waits.

BOX: To date the Central Election Commission has certified 10 political entities. Many others are expected to be certified soon.

They are:

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK)
Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSHDK)
Ashkali Albanian Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDASHK)
Liberal Party of Kosovo (PLK)
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSDK)
Centre Liberal Party of Kosovo (PQLK)
Albanian National Democratic Party (PNDSH)
Green Party of Kosovo (PGJK)

Note for editors
The full document may be consulted online in English at http://www.unmik.org/. Albanian and Serbian versions can be provided.

For a selection of photographs, please contact Mr Ky Chung at 038 504-604 ext. 5467