Crowdmonitoring of Elections through ICT: The Case of Uchaguzi Wetu 2015 Crowdsourcing Platform in Tanzania

Abstract

In recent years, monitoring of elections witnessed citizen participation in observing and reporting incidences through ubiquitous communication technologies to improve election integrity. Digitally enabled citizen observers complement long tradition of established observers to assess the quality of electoral contests. Using participatory rhombus conceptual model and its concept of invented and invited spaces [1], the paper examines the ability of the crowdmonitors to observe, generate and communicate voter education and mobilization activities via Magpi software application in the 2015 Tanzanian general elections. Generated big election data from citizens' observers were digitally mapped in the Uchaguzi Wetu 2015 crowdsourcing platform. However, international election observer reported that voter education activities were, not visible at all. In contrast, our analysis found voter education and mobilization of women, youth and people with disabilities to participate in the electoral process, conducted by electoral commission, civil society organizations and political parties were visible in rural, urban and metropolitan constituencies. Here it is argued that technology usage and invented space enhances crowdmonitoring or blended approach of online and offline instruments produce better observation results. This includes recognition of nonpartisan monitoring of electoral processes through digital participatory methods.