104 The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR 2.1.8.2.2 Observation of various phases of the electoral process (registration, nomination, campaigning, polling, counting, and announcement of results)100 The CEC invested significant efforts to organise local elections throughout LGUs. To this avail, the CEC appointed electoral teams to handle the registration, nomination, and polling processes across governorates at the time of registration and polling. However, the law only provides general conditions for the agency in charge of appointing these teams (Article 18 of the Law by Decree on the General Elections No. 1 of 2007), leaving the matter of determining the teams to “professional conditions and criteria) as well as to recommendations of electoral district offices. In practice, some ICHR observers noted the unclarity of procedures, by which members of registration and/or polling centre teams are selected in different districts • Infractions during the registration phase According to ICHR monitoring of registration and duration allotted to the public to file complaints to the CEC or challenges to courts against CEC decisions (3-24 October 2021), the ICHR did not document any violations of the registration process. No citizens were prevented from exercising their right to register or relocate their place of registration in line with the due process of law. On the other hand, ICHR documentation demonstrated that, on the polling day, some citizens discovered that their names were not included on the voter list in the locations they had registered and voted earlier. At the time, these citizens did not exercise their right to access and view the voter list. Filed at the beginning of December 2021, a complaint included several names, which had been transferred from the voter list in the Qalandiya LGU. However, the CEC replied that it checked the names in question and did not cite an irregularity. The CEC also received 20 complaints, including several claims by citizens from the Hebron governorate, who said that their registration, and hence polling, centres had been moved from one place to another. • Infractions during the nomination phase The ICHR did not document any notable violations during the nomination phase. However, the ICHR noted that the CEC tightened criteria for the admission and registration of some electoral lists. 100 ICHR local election observation efforts: Based on its mandate, the ICHR monitored the extent to which the right to political participation was realised. In the context of observing this phase of the local elections, the ICHR also documented violations to this right. The ICHR is mandated to monitor the realisation of rights, particularly the right to political participation, in accordance with the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles) of 1993. The ICHR mandate is also in line with the provisions of Article 58 of the Law on the Election of Local Government Units: “Observers and representatives of electoral lists shall have the right to observe all phases of the electoral process.” To monitor the realisation of human rights in general, and right to political participation in particular, from its onset, the ICHR has maintained electoral observation, including in the local elections organised this year. In pursuit of this effort, the ICHR was accredited by the CEC as a local observation body in February 2021. The CEC also accredited 42 ICHR observers (78.5 percent males and 21.5 females) throughout Palestinian governorates. The ICHR signed a memorandum of understanding with accredited civil society groups. During the first phase of the local elections, the ICHR: Launched an awareness raising campaign with the aim or encouraging citizens to participate in the local elections through registration and polling. Designed and printed out two brochures on participation in the local elections. Broadcast radio spots on 10 radio stations, including three daily spots on average, over 10 days in the West Bank. These revolved around electoral rights and freedoms as well as complaint handling mechanisms. Published six posts on the role of the Police in protecting the electoral process, ICHR role in electoral observation, and women’s right to participate in the election. Posted two video clips on the rights and freedoms relating to elections, electoral crimes, and complaint mechanisms. Hosted a TV show on electoral rights and freedoms and the role of security forces in protecting the electoral process. Held two workshops on the elections with some electoral lists. Complaints and documentation: Since the Council of Ministers’ decision on the date of the first phase of the local elections was passed in early September 2021, the ICHR received seven complaints on the right to vote and the right to stand for election. These included relocation of some registration centres, threats to candidates, and irregularities relating to electoral campaigning. Pilot survey for observation of the polling day. The Situation of Human Rights in Palestine