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COPE is concerned about the IEC's qualified audit but believes the nature of the qualification - largely based on staff administrative issues - will not have a negative impact on the Commission's reputation as a credible electoral commission.

The real test for the IEC remains to visibly demonstrate its independence and impartiality and to inculcate that culture throughout the organisation - even in remote polling stations where opposition party agents are not consistently present to oversee the conduct of officials engaged by the IEC.

Equally important for the IEC is to develop and implement credible administrative and control systems to minimize discretionary powers of officials, whose decisions could be flawed due to personal or political bias.