Observers reported that voting procedures were largely followed, with the secrecy of the ballot ensured in almost all of the visited polling stations. EU observers reported the presence of party agents in all of visited polling stations and domestic observers in 71% of visited places. EU observers also reported that in most places ZEC staff in polling stations worked extremely hard and diligently to process voters and that voters had a reasonable understanding of the voting process. EU observers reported a high degree of assisted voting in some places and also of voters not finding their name on voter lists in some 22% of polling stations visited (see section on Voter Registration), indicating problems with the voter roll and/or voter awareness. In 28% of the polling stations visited voters were not always checked for ink and in 6 % voters were not always marked with indelible ink. C Counting at the Polling Station Counting was observed in a total of 52 polling stations. EU observers reported that they were able to follow the counting of ballots without undue restriction in the presence of party agents and citizens observers. Counting was generally well organised and meticulous, although very slow. Observers in Makonde, Hurungwe and other areas reported that in many rural polling stations gas lamps were missing and that polling staff used mobile phones and candles to complete the counting of ballots. Some problems in ballot reconciliation, in determining valid and invalid ballots, in completing the numerous originals of return forms and in packing election materials for the three elections were noted. EU observers reported that the results were not posted at the polling station, as required by law, in 10 out of the 52 polling stations observed. D The Collation Process Collation of results was completed at ward, constituency, provincial and national level and the transmission of those results, from polling stations through each of the levels up to the national command centre, was as a manual process. Collated results were delivered in person by the responsible officer for each level of the process. At a lower level, local councillors and national assembly winners were announced at ward and constituency centres respectively. EU EOM observers reported an overall good collation process and access for observers was provided. However, there were some instances where party agents did not receive a copy of the completed results, and some results were not displayed outside the collation centres. This was the case in Mberengwa, where presidential constituency results were not posted in four constituencies. Instances of inconsistent implementation of collation procedures at lower levels were also observed. EU observers in Mutoko reported that collation at ward level was less well organised than other parts of the process, possibly due to the challenging context of working in the middle of the night. A number of ward returns had then to be corrected at the constituency collation centre. Observers in Chitungwiza, among other places, reported of unreasonable delays in delivery of returns and counting due to the manual copying of return forms at polling station, ward and constituency 34