bulk of approved applications were from the police with 4,616 requests, 2,403 election officers, 80 from the army and 315 from the air force. The remainder included 50 requests from diplomatic missions. Observers were present in eight police locations and observed the process. While the police facilitated the process at various police locations, the practices as observed by the EU EOM were not always as foreseen in the law. Also, ZEC’s failure to fully inform stakeholders and parties about how, where and when postal voting would be managed caused some apprehension and criticism. 71 After the conclusion of postal voting and sorting, ZEC made efforts to inform about the process for the sealing of postal ballot boxes at polling stations.72 The Electoral Act does not provide for postal voting to be administered by police commanders. It provides for postal ballots for the police to be distributed through a commanding officer, but thereafter each individual should complete their ballot in secret and then return directly to ZEC through the postal system. The set-up, as observed by the EU EOM, was inappropriate and infringed the Electoral Act. ZEC’s ambiguity in managing the postal ballot reiterates its poor communication with the public and stakeholders on key electoral stages.73 B Poll Preparations and Election Day ZEC established an early deployment of presiding officers and polling staff to polling stations. This allowed for a review of ballot papers and sensitive election materials, but also obliged polling officers to overnight at polling stations. EU observers reported an overall positive process, however in Shamva-South, North and Bindura North observers noted that party agents, except for the ZANU-PF, were absent and that there was little oversight regarding the security of ballot papers. Recommendation 17: The security of the ballot from printing, deployment to polling stations and on Election Day should be reviewed and procedures clearly announced for future elections. On Election Day, EU observers reported from some 600 polling stations in 154 constituencies. The overall assessment of polling was positive with only nine polling stations assessed performing poorly/badly, while the rest was evaluated as good or very good. Polling stations mostly opened on time and voting was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere around the country, with long queues in many places, causing some organisational challenges. Observers also reported some challenges for election staff with poor lighting, particularly in polling stations using tents. ZESN issued a statement expressing concern over the ‘chaotic start of the postal voting process’. They called upon ZEC for increased transparency, to announce the specific number of ballot papers dispatched and expressed concern about the initial conflicting statement issued by the ZEC and the police forces regarding the process. 72 Electoral notice “Invitation to sealing of postal ballot boxes” on 28 July, at respective polling stations, as published 25 July, in The Herald. 73 Observers were able to follow postal voting in eight locations, namely in Bulawayo, Mount Darwin, Bindura, Chinhoyi, Marondera Central, Nkayi district in Matebeleland north, Hwange and in Chiredzi. In Bulawayo Rosscamp Police Headquarters observers found approximately 300 police officers waiting to cast their postal ballot in ad hoc polling station managed by the police assistant commander. Police officers were marking their individual postal ballots in a separate room as to protect the secrecy of the vote, but in the presence of superiors who were acting as presiding officers. Three ballots for presidential, national assembly and local councillor elections were used, and prescribed envelopes provided. Initially, the ZEC officials seemed not to be aware of the ongoing postal voting, while the Zimbabwe Republic Police issued a statement confirming their actions. 71 33