-         NEO, in each polling station, controls who is supposed to vote in collaboration with the local polling commission, making sure that only registered electors in the constituency, members at the polling station and NEO Members on mission can vote. These persons must vote with their national identity cards and registration cards,(section 99 of law no. 91-020).

-         NEO, in collaboration with the local polling commission, must identify electors, (section 100(1) of law no 91-20), identify problems which may arise during polls, solve them, if not enter them in the report. NEO Officials must make sure that votes are counted, results published at the polling station, a report drawn up on the conduct of elections in the polling station concerned, the box and report forwarded to the supervisory commission and a copy retained by the NEO delegate, (section 6(17) of law N° 2000/016).

-         The list of polling stations must be published in all chief towns of the administrative unit five (5) days before election (section 96 of law no. 91-20).

-         Any change of polling station must be authorized by NEO.

-         NEO must be notified of any insufficient material, where names do not appear on polling stations or the presence of unauthorized persons at the polling stations.

-         NEO must make sure that polling is not done in the homes of interested candidates nor their affiliates.

-         NEO must assure that polling booths and envelopes are made available to electors to ensure the secrecy of the vote (section 97 of law no.91-20).

-         It may be incumbent on NEO to see to it that individuals do not walk away with ballot boxes.

-         NEO must hear protests and claims not resolved by the competent supervisory  committees concerning candidates, their behaviour as well as that of their representatives during periods of elections. (section 6(9) of law no. 2000/016).

It should be noted that:

* The time of opening the polling station is specified in the decree convening electors, on a Sunday or on a Public Holiday;

* The chairperson of the polling station in the presence of other members of the station, opens the polling station;

* The list of members of the polling station is published and notified on time to the persons indicated in the electoral law, in particular, the representatives of the list of candidates;

* Voting starts in the presence of at least five members of the local polling commission (section 32(1),(2) of law no. 91-20) and when all voting material is available.

Start of Polling Proper

NEO must make sure that voting time is respected.

Only the following persons can enter the polling station:

-         Electors whose names appear in the register of the polling station and who have not yet voted;

-         Candidates or their representatives;

-         Heads of administrative units of the area concerned or their representatives (section 99(1) and (2) of law no. 91-20) ;

-         NEO delegates (section 14(2) of law no. 2000-016).

N.B.

* Those people not qualified to remain at the polling stations must leave as soon as they have cast their vote.

The polling is conducted in the following ways:

-         The elector enters the polling station.

-         His name is checked in the register.

-         He collects ballot papers of the various parties and an empty envelope.

-         He enters the polling booth, puts the ballot paper of his choice in the envelope.

-         He comes out of the polling booth.

-         He shows the members of the polling station that he has only one envelope.

-         He slips the envelope into the ballot box.

-         The commission affixes a sign in the column of the register to show that he has voted. (Sections 100, 101, 102 of law no. 91-20).

The members of the commission ascertain voting by an elector:

-         When the elector puts his thumb print and signature on the space provided for this purpose.

This is followed by:

-         A member of the polling station affixing a sign in the column in the electoral register provided for this purpose.

-         The same member stamping the date of the election in the space provided on the elector’s card (section 102(a) and (b) of law no. 91-002 of 14 August 1991 to lay down conditions for the election of members of parliament).

The Elector is identified:

-         Through the presentation of his Registration Card and, if necessary, his National Identity Card (section 100(1) and (2) of law no. 91-20) ;

-         The verification of concordance with the name in the electoral register of the polling stations concerned.

The time for end of polling is specified in the decree convening electors.

Discipline at the polling station is assured by the chairperson who alone is in charge of discipline (section 36 of law no. 91-20).

Responsible authorities:

     Local polling commissions.

Composition:

Chairman:

       Representative of the administration.

Members:

Representatives of political parties or candidates or list of candidates.