ESWATINI DETAILED FINDINGS 1. Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) CATEGORY 1: WEBSITE www.elections.org.sz As 2018 is the elections year, the EBC’s website is up to date. The Commission has interactive social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The former has 1 587 likes and 1 599 followers. The website is powered by Computronics Systems Ltd. The ‘Media Centre’ section provides up-to-date information on news and events, as well as information on the role of the media during elections and accreditation processes. For inquiries, it requests one to fill out an electronic enquiry form. n = 20 Yes No Partial Additional Information • 1. Does this website contain up-to-date information? 2. Does the website contain the following: • a) A description of its powers, as well as data on the organisational structure, the functions and the responsibilities of the administration? No organisational structure is provided. • b) A list of laws, Acts etc issued within the scope of its powers? • c) Reports, policies, programmes? d) Budget and expenditure? • e) Information about procurement procedures and/or signed contracts? • f) Vacancy and employment procedures? • • g) The address, telephone numbers and working hours of the institution? Written ‘always open’, although no specific working hours are provided. • h) The contact details of specific public officials? • i) A mechanism to request and receive a response to electronic messages and requests for information? Total Score: 10/20 CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION The following questions were sent to the EBC: 1. How often is your website updated? 2. Who is in charge of your website? 3. How would you describe the relationship between the EBC and the media? 4. What were the benefits of using the social media during the electoral process? 5. What is the EBC’s media relations strategy? 6. How does the EBC handle electoral complaints? 7. What is the EBC’s annual budget? n = 20 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? Yes No • Additional Information Communications Officer 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? • 3. Did the institution respond to the request for information? • 4. Does the authority publish their procedures for dealing with information requests? Partial The Communications Officer told the researcher to direct their questions to the Head of Secretariat. • 11