SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Design electoral processes

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119624	Design 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 7	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7	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 or provincial level and have experience in strategic elections management and fulfil a direct role in design and a subsequent oversight role in the implementation. The design of electoral processes may also be done for other institutions or for their own institution.
People credited with this unit standard are capable of:

Analysing the context of elections;

Designing electoral processes; and

Presenting the electoral design process to a target audience.

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:

Essential research and analysis skills.

Report writing at NQF level 6.

Presentation skills in different mediums and formats.

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.

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 and/or candidate registration and candidate nomination.
> Election Phase - voting.
> Post-election Phase - counting, reconciliation of results and materials, seat calculation and allocation where applicable (i.e. how the votes translate into a position of power), dispute processes and mechanisms (concerning any of the various processes).

This unit standard excludes the design of the election systems, but includes the recommendation for selection of an appropriate election system.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Analyse the context of elections.

OUTCOME RANGE

The context includes past and present elections experiences; systems and processes, democratic values and principles, demographics, geography, technology, legal framework and the constitutional basis for elections.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Relevant institutional or organisational role-players are identified and consulted in terms of their operation at different levels of management.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The analysis identifies constraints, shortcomings and challenges of the electoral process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

The analysis compares different electoral systems in terms of their relevance and impact on the context of elections.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

The depth and scope of the analysis is sufficient for the design of electoral processes.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

The analysis is in line with the specified electoral terms of reference.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Design an electoral process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

The electoral process design is appropriate to the context of elections as revealed by the analysis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The design is practical, inclusive, comprehensive and cost effective in terms of its implementation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

The design is appropriate to the needs of critical stakeholders and upholds democratic values.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

The design provides multiple options for application in particular circumstances.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

The design reflects international and local best practice for democratic elections.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

The design provides sufficient detail for the subsequent development of procedures, programmes, plans and projects.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Present the electoral design process to a target audience.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

The electoral design is presented in a manner that is appropriate to the audience in terms of medium, delivery and format.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

The design may be presented orally, through audio-visual presentation or as a written report.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The presentation is clear and structured and conforms to the agreed format requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

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

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

The presentation is accurate and concise and covers all aspects of the design process in accordance with the terms of reference.

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 and values of democracy.

Different election systems, their strengths and weaknesses.

Assessment of evidence against criteria.

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 designing electoral processes.

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 analysing the elections context and designing 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 presentation.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically: this will be demonstrated to a limited extent, mainly in relation tools and techniques of analysis.

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 result.

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	57827	National Diploma: Public Administration	Level 7	Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	PSETA

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.

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