SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Plan and manage electoral processes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119626  Plan and manage electoral processes 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Democracy, Human Rights, Peace and Elections 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
PSETA - Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority 
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful for election practitioners who typically operate at national, provincial, local or organisational level with experience in elections management. Practitioners are responsible for planning, managing and coordinating electoral events.

People credited with this unit standard are capable of:
  • Planning electoral processes for a specific context.
  • Managing electoral processes.
  • Resolving electoral process problems.
  • Evaluating and reporting on electoral processes and activities. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Low scale need analysis.
  • General coordination and management of resources (incl budgets) and personnel.
  • Report writing at NQF level 5.
  • Working knowledge of electoral legislation or relevant rules, regulations or statutes as may apply.
  • Understanding of process concepts.
  • Project management.
  • Manage a voting station to contribute towards free and fair elections.
  • Principles for free and fair elections.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of electoral principles, practices and processes. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • This unit standard applies to elections at national, provincial, local or organisational levels that demand formal specified requirements and procedures, including secret ballots and voters' lists or rolls, within the context of established legislation and/or a constitution or documented rules and guidelines of some other form.
  • For credit in this unit standard, candidates must show they can manage multiple locations of electoral activities, such as multiple voting stations.
  • Electoral processes are defined to include the following:
    > Pre-election Phases - voter registration, voter education process and system (excludes the development of voter education programmes which is dealt with in another unit standard), boundary/constituency delimitation, political party/ candidate registration and candidate nomination.
    > Election Phase - voting.
    > Post- election Phase - counting, reconciliation, results, seat calculation where applicable (i.e. how the votes translate into a position of power), dispute processes and mechanisms (concerning any of the various processes). 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Plan electoral processes for a specific context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The relevant institutional or organisational role-players operating at different levels of management are identified, described and consulted in accordance with their respective roles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Analysis of the elections reveals constraints, shortcomings and challenges. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Resources are identified and allocated in accordance with specific requirements and availability. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Resources include human resources with defined roles, as well as financial and physical resources.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Project steps are defined with measurable objectives and achievable time frames in accordance with available resources. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The planning makes allowances for possible eventualities and complies with relevant legislation, regulations and specified requirements appropriate to the context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Planning makes provision for monitoring and evaluation of the electoral processes at all locations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Plans for electoral processes are communicated to all relevant stakeholders and participants in a timely manner using appropriate media and formats. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Manage electoral processes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Electoral processes are managed as per the plans, electoral legislation and specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Electoral personnel are oriented and managed according to their role specifications. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Orientation and organisation of electoral personnel is sufficient to enable them to fulfil their particular roles as specified in electoral legislation and/or specified requirements.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The electoral process and personnel are monitored in a manner that provides sufficient information for record keeping and to allow for timely interventions when required. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Interventions are appropriate to the situation and facilitate the smooth running of multiple stations in line with the principle of free and fair elections. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Interactions with roleplayers are inclusive, non-partisan, respect human dignity and promote tolerance. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Roleplayers include public, staff, party agents and security personnel.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Roleplayers and their representatives are managed in relation to electoral processes and the principles of free and fair elections. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Resolve election process problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Potential and actual problems are identified and analysed in terms of their impact on the electoral process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Actions are justified by the situations and are suitable for addressing the problems effectively and in line with the principles of free and fair elections. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    This includes the possibility of making referrals to higher authorities or specialist personnel as justified by the situation.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Problem solving strategies and solutions are identified and are in line with plans, legislation, regulations and specified requirements, and consider legislation regarding non-compliance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The manner of problem solving promotes the smooth running of voting stations and upholds the principles of free and fair elections. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Evaluate and report on electoral process and activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The report is presented in a manner that is appropriate to the audience in terms of medium, delivery and format. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The report may be presented orally, through audio-visual presentation or as a written report.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The report is accurate and concise and covers all aspects of the electoral process in accordance with the terms of reference. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Key areas covered include sites covered, aspects of what was observed, problems, transgressions, actions/interventions, results of interventions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Information is presented in a clear and structured manner and meets the specified format requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Language is consistent with electoral terminology and is pitched at an appropriate level for the target audience. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Evaluation findings identify strengths and weaknesses of the electoral process and activities. Recommendations have the potential to improve future planning and management of electoral processes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The report is compiled and submitted in line with the observation or monitoring management. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Assessors for this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures.
  • Moderators must be registered as assessors with the relevant ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Elections legislation and/or specified requirements.
  • Principles of free and fair elections.
  • Different electoral processes, alternatives, their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Elections-related technologies.
  • Resources required for elections.
  • Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems:
  • This will be demonstrated generally throughout the standard, but particularly when resolving electoral process problems. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively: this standard demands high levels of self-management. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information: this will be displayed when planning and reporting the electoral processes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills: communication will be demonstrated through interactions with all role-players, as well as in the form of presentations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically: this will be demonstrated to a limited extent, mainly in related to election-related technology and management and reporting tools. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system:
  • This will be demonstrated in a limited sense, but mainly through a consideration of the impact that specific problems could have on the electoral process and results. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  67460   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.