Building on the CEC’s continuous efforts to raise awareness and increase understanding of elections and democracy among Palestinians, the CEC carried out a project entitled “Training of Potential Registration/Polling Supervisors for 2010” throughout the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In 2009, the CEC undertook a similar project which targeted employees of the Ministry of Education. Both projects were financially supported by the Norwegian Government and aimed to produce well-trained staff prepared to assist with upcoming elections.
The 2010 project differed from other CEC projects in that it relied upon the voluntary participation of ordinary citizens. The training courses were open to any citizen between 22-44 years of age who had graduated from university, regardless of his/her place of residence or position, who had not already completed a similar course. Applications were accepted from 27 September 2010 through 10 October 2010. Twelve courses, each lasting 3 days, were held in districts where applications were received. The 300 who attended the training course were taught skills which would enable them to provide professional assistance during any electoral event; each received a certificate of completion from the CEC attesting to that fact.