In line with the League of Arab States' commitment to supporting democratic processes, promoting good governance, and expanding political participation, and in response to the invitation extended to Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, by Mr. Farouk Bouasker, Chairman of the Independent High Authority for Elections in the Republic of Tunisia, to observe the presidential elections held on 6 October 2024, His Excellency the Secretary-General directed the formation of an observation mission. This mission, led by His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Hussein Al-Hindawi, Assistant Secretary-General, comprised a group of experienced observers from the General Secretariat, representing nine different Arab nationalities.
The mission's mandate on election day was to monitor the extent to which the opening, voting, counting, and tabulation procedures adhered to the provisions of Tunisian electoral law and the guidelines set forth by the Independent High Authority for Elections.
The mission deployed teams across six Tunisian governorates, where they observed the opening procedures in eight polling stations. In addition, the observers monitored the voting process in 270 offices across 84 polling centres and attended the counting and tabulation process in seven offices. The mission’s key observations, based on the stations it visited, are summarised as follows:
1. Opening of Polling Stations
The mission teams verified that the opening procedures at the polling stations they observed were conducted in full compliance with the legal requirements. This included securing the ballot boxes with numbered locks and issuing the official opening minutes. Additionally, they confirmed that voting commenced punctually at 8:00 a.m. as scheduled.
2. Voting Materials
The mission teams reported the availability and proper condition of all electoral materials in the polling stations they visited. No complaints regarding a shortage or inadequacy of voting materials were recorded throughout election day.
3. Lists of Registered Voters
The mission noted that voter registration lists were prominently displayed in all polling stations they monitored. Furthermore, no significant objections to the voter records were observed in most of the centres visited.
4. Mechanism for Verifying Non-repeated Voting
The mission closely monitored the electronic verification system, designed to ensure that voters did not cast their vote abroad, thereby preventing repeated voting. While this procedure functioned effectively overall, the mission noted occasional delays due to technical issues. These disruptions, while not severe enough to hinder the election process as a whole, highlight the need for further refinement of this system to enhance its efficiency and achieve its intended purpose.
5. Voting Secrecy
The mission observers confirmed that the principle of voting secrecy was upheld in 95% of the polling stations they visited, ensuring voters could cast their ballots in privacy.
6. Electoral Propaganda
The mission noted that in most cases, candidates’ propaganda posters were placed in designated areas outside polling stations, as required by law. However, the presence of electoral posters within some polling centres on election day was also observed.
7. Polling Station Employees
The mission observed that the heads of polling stations and their assistants were present and actively performing their duties in the majority of the offices visited. The staff demonstrated high levels of professionalism, accuracy, and discipline, which can be attributed to the training programmes provided to them and their accumulated experience in managing the electoral process.
8. Participation of the Elderly, Illiterate, and People with Special Needs
The mission teams noted that assistance was made available to the elderly, illiterate individuals, and people with special needs in most polling stations, ensuring their ability to participate in the voting process.
9. Women’s Participation
The mission highlighted the significant role played by women in various capacities throughout the electoral process. A substantial number of women were observed in leadership roles as heads and members of polling stations, and their active participation as voters was also evident. Women were also seen serving within the security forces, underscoring their vital contribution to the electoral process in Tunisia.
10. Presence of Candidate Representatives and Local Observers
The mission observed that representatives of candidates were present in only 30% of the polling stations visited, while the presence of local observers was notably weak in the majority of the stations.
11. Security Forces
The mission teams observed that polling stations were secured efficiently, with no security forces inside the polling centres and no interference in the voting process. The mission commends the army and police for their crucial role in maintaining security, which allowed the voting process to unfold in a peaceful and safe environment.
12. Voter Turnout
The mission teams recorded varying rates of voter turnout throughout the day, noting the participation of voters across different age groups, with a particularly high turnout among the elderly.
13. Closing of Voting and Counting Procedures
At the end of the voting day, the mission confirmed that polling stations closed promptly at 6:00 p.m., and the procedures for counting and sorting votes were conducted smoothly and without incident, adhering to the legal provisions and the regulations set by the Independent High Authority for Elections.
The Independent High Authority for Elections
The mission closely followed the role of the Independent High Authority for Elections in overseeing this significant electoral event, particularly its technical and logistical preparations in the preceding months. These efforts reflect the Authority’s considerable experience accumulated through the organisation of multiple electoral processes since its establishment in 2012.
The League of Arab States' Election Observation Mission extends its deep gratitude and appreciation to the Independent High Authority for Elections, as well as to the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Migration and Tunisians Abroad, for the invaluable support provided, which facilitated the successful completion of its mission. Furthermore, the mission expresses its profound appreciation for the warm reception and keen interest shown by Tunisian citizens and the national media.
The League of Arab States' Election Observation Mission commends the thorough preparation and smooth organisation of the voting process, as well as the safe and secure atmosphere that prevailed throughout Election Day. It emphasises that this preliminary statement reflects only the mission’s initial observations from Election Day itself, and that its final report will encompass comprehensive observations and recommendations on all stages of the electoral process. This includes the legal framework, voter and candidate registration, the campaign period, Election Day proceedings, the appeals process, and the announcement of the final results. The mission will submit this report to the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States for approval, after which it will be transmitted to the appropriate Tunisian authorities.
