Referendum
Objective:
A referendum shall be held by the transitional government of Iran to allow voters to choose which system of government they would prefer as such as a decision is a major political issue in Iran.
This referendum will be independent and free from bias; the voters shall choose a secular government system.
A parliamentary monarchy vs. a democratic republic.
This referendum is to be conducted by impartial observers, to ensure the voter’s safety, confidentiality and accuracy of election results.
The referendum should take place not later than two years after assumption of power by transitional government.
Logistics:Transitional government of Iran shall conduct a study to assess logistical needs of the referendum at least one year in advance of the elections. The study should focus on:
1. Election laws
2. Voter registration process
3. Voter education
4. Formation of electoral commissions
5. Free participation of all political parties
6. Unhindered participation of voters
7. Communications
8. Transportation
9. Funding
10. Security
11. Assistance to handicapped
12. Assistance to illiterate population
13. Adequate supply of election materials
14. Campaign period
15. Participation of non-government organizations
16. Participation of United Nations observers
Election Preparations:
1. The Electoral CommissionThe elections will be conducted by independent electoral committee and Ministry of the Interior of the transitional government. Together this will form the “Electoral Commission.”
A. Every district shall establish a commission composed of not less than five members, but no more than nine members. Each commission will have one employee of the ministry of the interior.
B. The chairman of the commission is to be elected by the District Commissioners.
C. The commission duty is to conduct and facilitate the election process and will be monitored by an international observer such as the United Nations.
D. The commission responsibility is to ensure a competitive, unhindered participation of the voters in the election process. Voters will cast their vote in safety, secrecy and that the vote tabulation to be conducted without tampering and fraud.
E. An Electoral Commissioner is disqualified from membership in the committee if the person:
I. Is a registered member of a political party
II. Is an officer or employee of a political party
III. Holds an elective office
IV. Is employed by the government
V. Has a criminal conviction
VI. Has a drug or alcohol addiction
VII. Has an immoral character
F. Every election commission shall appoint a member as the group spokesperson who would give a progress report.
G. Every commission shall appoint a member to be a liaison officer with a United Nations observer.
H. Each qualifying political party shall have one representative to observe election process in the district. The political party observers shall have no role in the commission other than observation of transparency in the election process and to report any irregularities or fraud in the voting process to the chairman and or United Nations observer.
I. The commission shall prepare and publish a report of the referendum results along with any observed irregularities and attempted fraud.
2. Voter Education.
The transitional government shall start a referendum campaign six months in advance of elections. The campaign will be on public education and notification of the referendum date and importance of participation. The government shall employ television and radio broadcasts, advertising, and print media providing unsolicited material to electors and holding publicity rallies. Non-governmental organizations may travel to remote areas to conduct public education.
3. Date
The Election date will be designated with 180 days notice and to be conducted on a Friday.
4. Political CampaignThe campaign period begins sixty days before the election and ends on midnight the day before the election.
5. Funding
The Allocation of a national budget to finance elections, public education for referendum; Fund political party campaigns and non-governmental organizations to provide some necessary services.
6. Ministry of the InteriorThe transitional governments Department of the Interior may hire outside election consultants to work with election committees. The government is responsible for recruitment and training of election officials. Ministry of the Interior shall conduct a prior assessment of regional electoral process needs such as:
A. Deployment of election officials and observers, providing security, transportation, communication equipment, election materials, regional budgets, number of polling stations, necessary equipment, and the proper distribution of election material, as well as timely collection of results.
B. Establish a joint cooperation with foreign ministry for drafting of plans and to conduct elections outside of Iran by Iranian diplomatic missions serving Iranians abroad.
C. Provide voter lists, voter cards, ballot papers, voting booths, indelible ink and other necessary equipment and materials well in advance of elections.
D. Provide presence of security forces to perform their tasks without interference in the normal conduct of the poll, such as guarding entrances, restricting unauthorized access to the ballots, ballot boxes and checking for identification to match voting cards.
E. The transitional government shall draft referendum regulations and legislation to punish “vote buying,” intimidation or disturbing the peace at the polling stations.
F. In remote areas, the government shall provide the election commissions with satellite phones, laptop computers with satellite internet access, all terrain vehicles and helicopters.
7. Voters RegistrationA. The right to vote is universal, secret and equal with a voting age of eighteen (sixteen if the transitional government chooses to do so.)
B. Voters must be registered on a national voters list that shall be revised annually for future elections other than the referendum compilation of voters list from eligible registered voters will be done by Ministry of the Interior. Voter must present identification to register.
C. Voters list must be posted forty-five days prior to election for public inspection, following which an appeal period is available to any affected individuals. A special civil court shall be established to hear voter’s registration disputes on urgent basis. There will be ten days to contest, and civil court decision within seven days, followed by fifteen days to appeal and reconsider.
D. Telephone hot lines and internet sites will be dedicated to allow voters to check their details on the voters list and address their concerns.
8. Voter cards
A. Prior printing of voter cards will be done by the Ministry of the Interior
B. The distribution of voter cards must begin thirty days before the election and ends one day prior to the Election Day. Distribution centers will be open extended hours one week prior to elections. Voters must present identification to collect their voter cards.
Election Process
1. Ministry of the Interior manages the conduct of the elections and is responsible for the overall technical and material support of the elections.
2. Ministry of the Interior will supervise the management of the tabulation process and is responsible for announcement of election results.
3. On the day of the referendum, voters will present their voter cards at the polling stations along with official photo identification such as birth certificate, passport or a driver’s license. Voter cards must be collected from the voter once a ballot is handed to the voter.
4. The voters cast their votes in privacy of a voting booth.
Tabulation Process
1. A Tabulation committee shall be established in advance of the elections
2. The Tabulation Committee will be comprised of one of the Ministry of the Interior employees, three Electoral Committee members, two political party observers, and one United Nations observer and one security official.
3. Votes shall be counted
4. Three copies of Tally Sheets of results will be made. District will keep one copy; the other two will go to provincial and National Tabulation Committees. Subsequently, Regional level Tabulation Committees tabulate results from all of the local authorities in their respective province and a National Tabulation Commission will compile results for the entire country.
Results
1. The election results must be announced in a pre-determined fixed time frame.
2. There will be no premature announcements of results by the media until all polling stations are closed and accounted for.
3. Once the national tabulation process is completed, the Minister of the Interior will announce the election results.
4. The elected system of government with fifty-one percent of the nations votes or greater wins the election.
Aftermath
1. Election of constitutional parliament to write the constitution
2. Nationwide election for elected government position.
3. Transfer of power from transitional government to the elected government by the people.