2024 Legislative Elections: 1 Week to Vote Amid Staffing Shortages

As the nation prepares for the upcoming general elections scheduled for Sunday, November 10, concerns are mounting over a critical staffing shortage within the electoral commission. The office of the electoral commissioner has reported difficulties in securing adequate personnel for various electoral districts, primarily due to reluctance among public officials to participate in the electoral operations.

This situation is posing significant challenges for the smooth execution of the election process.

In response to the staffing crisis, the High Powered Committee (HPC) for the public service has acknowledged the urgent need to revisit the compensation packages offered to electoral agents.

The hope is that increased financial incentives will encourage more public servants to volunteer for these roles.

As part of the new compensation plan, the allowance for presiding officers will rise from Rs 10,500 to Rs 12,000, while allowances for poll clerks, ballot box clerks, and directing clerks will increase from Rs 4,800 to Rs 5,500.

A special meeting held on October 30 facilitated the approval of these revised allowances.

Additionally, agents who will oversee the vote counting process will now receive an extra allowance of Rs 2,000 on election day, up from Rs 1,600.

A new travel allowance of Rs 3,000 has also been introduced to incentivize electoral agents to work outside their home constituencies.

Despite these efforts, many public officials remained hesitant to accept these roles, even with the increased remuneration.

“Yes, the allowances for electoral agents have been raised, but this work is incredibly demanding and comes with significant responsibilities. I believe that, beyond financial incentives, we need assurances regarding our safety and working conditions,” remarked one official who ultimately decided to get involved.

Many public servants engaged in extensive preparations leading up to the election, including setting up polling stations and working from early morning until at least 8 PM on voting day.

The following day, they return to the polling sites by 5:30 AM, often without clear expectations regarding when their responsibilities will conclude.

On the other hand, the Electoral Office (OEC) claimed that steps have been taken to effectively manage personnel for the upcoming elections.

“To ensure the smooth conduct of voting and counting procedures, the OEC has a reinforced staff plan in place to cover any last-minute absences or extended work hours, especially during the counting phase.

In addition to the minimum required staff, other personnel will be on standby to address unforeseen circumstances,” explained Rabin Bhujun, communications consultant and spokesperson for the OEC.

Transparent Ballot Boxes Reassured

In related news, images circulating on social media have raised concerns among Mauritians, suggesting that the ballot boxes for the upcoming vote may not be transparent.

In response, the OEC has confirmed that the ballot boxes used to collect votes will indeed be transparent, maintaining the same standards as in previous general elections, as well as for the regional assembly elections in Rodrigues and for municipal and village councils.

“These transparent boxes enable visibility from the outside, ensuring a high level of transparency throughout both the voting and counting processes,” Rabin Bhujun emphasized.

It was noted that other types of boxes, typically black or gray in color, are also utilized during elections.

However, these containers do not hold any ballots; instead, they are primarily used for transporting documents, forms, office supplies, and other materials necessary for the electoral personnel, concluded Rabin Bhujun.

Source: l’Express