The CEC continues its activities in the summer camps through the “2007 youth leadership elections in the summer camps” project. The project is implemented in all West Bank districts in cooperation with National Committee for Summer Camps. The project aims at enhancing elections education among the youth generation by conducting mock elections to elect a youth leadership in each camp.
The project is implemented in twenty two summer camps in all West Bank districts and targets the age group between 12-17 years old who are responsible for organizing and conducting the whole process.
In “Palestine: Identity and Future” summer camp in Nablus, 43 voters voted for seven candidates who competed over five seats. We met Ahmad Al Sayeh (13 yrs) who is a registered voter in the camp, he told us about the reason for his registration by saying” I registered my name so that I can elect the right candidate. I listened to all candidates talking about their electoral platforms and I chose the right person in my opinion”.
In her capacity as an observer, Hiba (13 yrs), monitored the conduct of the electoral process in the camp. We saw her checking the correctness of the procedures inside the polling center in order to make sure they are in conformity with the training she received in the beginning of the project. “The role of the observer is to monitor the electoral process to make sure it is conducted in accordance with the CEC’s instructions” Heba said. She also added that she prefers to be an observer rather than a candidate because she is concerned more about the integrity of the elections.
The practical steps of the camps elections commence with the announcement of the elections day. Then begins the registration of eligible voters. After that, the final voters’ list is published for challenge.
Firas Ghnaim, 17 yrs, nominated himself for Palestine: identity and future camp’s elections. Firas wished to be elected as the “camp’s leader “ as he told us and that’s why he nominated himself. Before the elections, Firas seemed very optimistic and expected to win the elections. He said “ I expected to win because im popular in the camp due to my strong personality and because im a fun person”.
On the other hand and in Salfit’s Talaee summer camp, Mr. Hakam Qadri, a candidate’s parent looked very nervous during the counting of the votes process and at the same time expressed his happiness with this educational activity by saying” I wish this project is implemented in all summer camps because it enhances the concepts of democracy among students a way from all types of violence. Mr. Qadri encouraged his son, Sari to participate in this activity. When asked about the training he received, Sari said “I benefited a lot from the training which was given to us in the beginning of the project and I intend to keep the promises I made to the students who voted for me by working on improving the conditions of the camp and by referring their needs to the camp administration”. Sari won thirty five votes out of fifty eight.
The CEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Hisham Kuhail attended some of the activities in the camps and followed up the details of each procedure. He checked the ballot papers, boxes and made sure the electoral process is observed. Mr. Kuhail made sure that mock elections are conducted according to the same procedures of real elections and he didn’t care much about the winners but rather about the integrity of the elections regardless of the age of the participants. In his closing speech following the announcement of the results in Al-Talae camp in Salfit, Mr. Kuhail said “ Im very happy to be here among you all while you participate in this democratic process. Participation of you all is in itself a victory for you all”