PVT Overview

What Is PVT?

The Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology for election observation is a powerful citizens’ tool for monitoring the conduct of polling on Election Day and for verifying official results as announced by Election Management Bodies (EMBs). Since PVT was first used in the Philippines in 1986, domestic observer groups around the world have utilized this methodology to promote electoral integrity. PVT builds upon traditional election observation, enabling observers to provide the public with even more accurate and detailed information about the conduct of an election.

PVT observation involves recruiting, training, and deploying accredited non-partisan observers to observe voting and counting processes on Election Day. However, it departs from traditional observation in two main ways:

Key PVT Features

PVT relies on a nationally representative sample of polling stations across the country. Employing time-tested statistical principles, the PVT methodology ensures that observers are deployed in a way that is representative of the entire nation. No biases are shown between regions because the sample of polling stations is stratified to ensure that polling stations are randomly selected in every region and constituency. From these polling stations, observers report on the number of votes counted by the Electoral Commission (EC) at the close of polls. The monitoring body, in this case CODEO, collects these reports and the official vote count is aggregated to estimate the results of the election. This makes the PVT a unique observation tool, as it allows the monitoring body to act as a check on the accuracy of the total valid vote count announced by the Electoral Commission.

Secondly, the PVT allows observers to transmit their findings from polling stations via SMS text messaging to a central database, mounted by data clerks specially trained to process the data.

Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) Animation Video

CODEO’s Parallel Vote Tabulation for 2020 Elections

Frequently Asked Questions (PVT)

How is PVT different from traditional election observation?

Traditional observation involves recruiting, training, and deploying accredited non-partisan observers to observe voting and counting processes at selected polling stations on Election Day. Similarly, PVT observation involves recruiting, training, and deploying accredited non-partisan observers to keep watch over voting and counting processes at polling stations on Election Day. However, PVT departs from traditional observation due to two main factors: The way in which polling stations are selected for observation the way in which data on the voting process is transmitted by observers

What is the goal of CODEO's PVT Observation?

Just as previously done in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 elections, CODEO is utilizing PVT methodology to observe Ghana’s 2020 elections in order to promote free, fair, peaceful, credible and legitimate elections. By providing timely, precise and representative information on the conduct of voting and counting as well as verifying the accuracy of the official results as announced by the Electoral Commission (EC), PVT can help deter possible manipulation and enhance the confidence of the public and political contestants in the process.

What are the benefits of PVT?

PVT can serve to: -deter possible manipulation or mistakes (particularly during the tabulation of results) -enhance transparency in the process by providing more timely, precise and representative information on the conduct of voting and counting -increase confidence in the official results as announced by EC, by providing independent verification of their accuracy

How does PVT provide more accurate information on the conduct of voting and counting?

With PVT, observers are deployed to a more representative group of polling stations (a sample) carefully selected by trained statisticians. The sample of polling stations is stratified by region and constituency to ensure that it is representative of all of Ghana. Stratifying by region, for example, ensures that the percentage of polling stations in the sample for each region is equal to the percentage of total polling stations for each region. Therefore, the distribution of observers is proportionate to the percentage of polling stations in each region and constituency. The result of this carefully chosen distribution is that overall picture of voting and counting provided is more accurate.

What is the PVT sample size?

The sample includes approximately 1500 polling stations located across all of Ghana. These are sampled polling stations in every region and every constituency of the country.

Can we have the list of PVT polling stations?

Prior to Election Day it is not possible to give the exact number or location of the sampled polling stations. If this information were known in advance then it would be possible for some group to manipulate the results by only focusing on non-sampled polling stations. Until the official results have been announced and accepted by all parties it is necessary to keep the number and location of the sampled polling stations confidential. Afterwards CODEO will make the sample public.

How does PVT verify the official results?

CODEO deploys observers to a representative random sample of polling stations. The observers record the official results and rapidly transmit their reports to a National Information Center. Based on time-tested statistical principles CODEO compares figures collected from sampled polling stations with the official results as announced by EC.

Isn't the Election Commission responsible for announcing the official results?

Yes, only the Election Commission is responsible for announcing the official election results. CODEO will use the information gathered through PVT methodology to be able to verify the conduct of the tabulation process and the accuracy of the results, but it remains the responsibility of the Electoral Commission to announce the official results.

Has the Election Commission approved CODEO's use of the PVT methodology?

The Electoral Commission is aware that CODEO will employ the PVT methodology of election observation in the 2020 elections just as the Coalition did in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 general elections. Although CODEO does not need an official approval from the EC to conduct the PVT, it is important that the EC is aware of CODEO’s activities. Furthermore, all CODEO observers will be accredited by the Election Commission for Election Day observation.

Is a PVT the same as an exit poll?

No, a PVT is not an exit poll. An exit poll involves asking voters for whom they voted. CODEO observers do not ask voters for whom they voted. CODEO observers simply record the official vote count of the polling station after having observed voting and counting.

Does a PVT involve observers counting ballots?

No, CODEO observers do not count the ballots. Only the election officials count ballots. CODEO observers observe the voting and counting process and then record the official vote count as announced by the polling station officials.

How confident is CODEO in the findings of the PVT methodology?

The confidence level applied to PVT is at least 95 percent, and this is very high and is accepted by statisticians around the world. Thus, it is 95 percent certain that the accurate result of the Presidential election will lie within the margin of error of the PVT figure. Therefore, the people of Ghana and its political leaders should be very confident in CODEO’s PVT results.

Where else has the PVT methodology been used?

Domestic observer groups around the world routinely use the PVT methodology to promote electoral integrity. PVT was first used by Citizens Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) in the Philippines in 1986. It has since been employed to varying degrees by observer groups in numerous countries, including: Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Guyana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malawi, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.