ZESN Report on the 31 July 2013 Harmonised Elections international standards the total number of ballot papers printed must not exceed the total voter population by more than 5-10 per cent. There were also questions about the quality of the indelible ink with some alleging that it was poor and was easily erasable. Polling stations set-up Polling stations were well set up and 95 per cent of ZESN observers reported polling stations were open by 7:30am and all were open by 9am, two hours after the official opening time. Virtually all stations had the required materials by this time. All polling stations were equipped with the required ballot boxes by the time they were due to open, and 97 per cent of them had received adequate supplies of ballot papers. ZEC’s official stamp had been received at 94 per cent of polling stations by 7am, while the same percentage of polling stations had received the indelible ink. The voters’ roll was available at 99 per cent of polling stations. MDC-T and ZANU-PF had polling agents in at least 96 per cent of polling stations, and MDC-N had polling agents at just half the polling stations. All other political parties combined had polling agents in 46 per cent of the polling stations. ZESN notes the need for improved training for party agents so that they can execute their mandate more effectively. Across the country, polling stations averaged nine ZEC staff with, on average, six female staff in urban polling stations and five in rural polling stations. Police officers were stationed inside 83 per cent of 59 | P a g e