Analytical Report Inclusive Electoral Observation and Civic Engagement for the 2026 Local Elections Project

  At a Glance:  10 municipalities observed  •  16 observers deployed (50% women, 81% youth)  •  10 polling stations monitored  •  4 accountability sessions  •  93 community participants  •  1 public preliminary statement issued within 48 hours

■ 1. Campaign Period Findings  (11–23 April 2026)

Fifteen accredited observers and one field supervisor were deployed across 10 municipalities and village councils in the northern West Bank, with an observer team comprising 50% women and 81% youth aged 18–29. Key findings during the campaign period:

• Campaigning near polling stations documented across multiple locations, in violation of electoral law

• Misinformation spread during campaign; incidents referred to the Central Elections Commission through official channels

• Observer neutrality maintained throughout via standardised tools and strict protocols

• Movement restrictions near checkpoints managed through proximity-based assignments and contingency planning

■ 2. Election Day Assessment  (25 April 2026)

All 10 polling stations were simultaneously monitored; the field supervisor moved continuously between stations to coordinate coverage and respond in real time.

• Most stations opened and closed on time; counting was transparent and officials were generally responsive

Violations recorded: campaigning near stations, occasional ballot secrecy breaches, voter interference in some areas, inconsistent application of voter assistance rules

Overall assessment: violations were isolated and did not undermine the integrity of the election

• Public preliminary statement issued within 48 hours, providing impartial field-grounded findings to communities and media

■ 3. Media Integrity Analysis

Misinformation during the campaign period was identified as a structural risk and addressed through a dual approach: observers documented and referred incidents to the CEC rather than intervening directly, preserving impartiality; and the public preliminary statement served as an authoritative, field-based reference for communities and media. Future programming should integrate dedicated media monitoring with real-time verification capacity.

■ 4. Post-Election Accountability Sessions  (May–June 2026)

Four civic accountability sessions — the first of their kind in these communities — were held in Sarra, Qusin, Zawata, and Asira Al-Shamaliya, engaging 93 residents directly with their newly elected councils:

Asira Al-Shamaliya: building permits, urban planning, budget transparency, community oversight committees

Zawata: acute water crisis — no independent supply; settler encroachment on the village well formally documented

Sarra: waste management, sanitation infrastructure, establishment of community follow-up committees

Qusin: budget access rights, shared responsibility for public cleanliness and maintenance

All four councils responded constructively: committing publicly to follow up through specialised subcommittees, publish outcomes via official channels, hold sessions biannually, and open community participation committees to residents and youth immediately.

■ 5. Recommendations

R1: Institutionalise accountability sessions biannually across all four councils — formalise in municipal calendars with advance public notice

R2: Address the women’s participation gap through dedicated pre-session outreach, women-focused formats, and partnerships with local women’s committees

R3: Strengthen ballot secrecy protections, enforce no-campaigning zones near stations, and clarify voter assistance rules ahead of future electoral cycles

R4: Scale the accountability session model to all 10 observed localities and open community participation committees immediately

R5: Build on the youth observer cohort (81% of field team) with advanced civic skills — turning one-time monitors into sustained community accountability actors

  Key Finding: The election was generally conducted in line with the law; violations were isolated and did not undermine overall integrity. The post-election accountability phase — not election day itself — produced the most lasting democratic impact, opening structured, ongoing accountability between elected councils and their communities for the first time.