Table of Contents

Letter of Transmittal 1. Introduction Terms of Reference Activities 2. Political Background Early History The Transition to Independence The Burnham Years Post-Burnham: Political Change The 2006 Elections Political Contestants for the 2011 Elections Local Government Elections Guyana and the Commonwealth 3. The Electoral Framework and Election Administration Background and Electoral System International and Regional Commitments and National Legal Framework The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Voter Eligibility and Voter Registration Party and Candidate Eligibility and Nomination Election Offences and Election Petitions Codes of Conduct for Political Parties and Media Key Issues 1. Composition and Role of GECOM 2. Voter Registration 3. Women's Participation and Representation 4. Regulations on Campaign Expenditure 5. Size of Electoral Regions 6. Election Petitions Recommendations 4. The Election Campaign Campaign Calendar Campaign Environment Adherence to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties Advantage and Abuse of Incumbency Media Background Media and the Campaign Media Code of Conduct and the Media Monitoring Unit State Media Commercial Media Print Media New Media Election Day Voter Education Recommendations 5. Voting, Counting and Tabulation Background Key Procedures for Opening and Voting Assessment of Opening and Voting Key Procedures for the Count Assessment of Counting Overview of the Countrywide Observation The Tabulation and Results Process Recommendations 6. Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions Recommendations Electoral Framework and Election Administration Election Campaign and Media Voting, Counting and Results Annex 1. Composition of the Commonwealth Observer Group Annex 2. COG Deployment Plan Annex 3. Arrival Statement Annex 4. Interim Statement