The European Center for Electoral Support (ECES), as part of its European Union-funded project in Mali known as Projet d'Appui à l'observation citoyenne du cycle électoral de la Transition 2020-2022 au Mali (Pro Observation Mali) deployed some 3,000 short-term observers to polling stations across the country this Sunday, June 18, 2023, to monitor the referendum vote in Mali.

No polling stations in the Kidal region opened their doors following opposition to the new constitution by the CMA (Coalition des Mouvements de l'Azawad).

The MODELE (Mission d'Observation des Elections) Mali set up an Electoral Watch Unit from the 17th to the 19th at the Azalai Salam Hotel, a mechanism for monitoring, coordinating, analyzing and alerting in real time on the conditions under which voting operations are being organized. It comprises 3 chambers:

  • The decision-making chamber, known as the political chamber, is made up of legal and electoral experts, civil society leaders and MODELE Mali.
  • The intermediate chamber: called the analysis chamber, is made up of analysts and experts in gender/disability, politics, statistics and MODELE Mali.
  • The technical chamber: known as the monitoring chamber, is made up of fifty (50) data managers commonly referred to as the Monitoring and Analysis Team (EVA). Its purpose is to collect field data in real time via a platform that will be accessible online for the benefit of all users.


The system will enable MODELE to collect data in real time on key aspects of the voting process (opening of polling stations, voting operations, turnout, closing time, counting, violence, conscience buying, stoppage of voting, intimidation).

Information gathered at 1:00 pm Bamako time shows that in the polling stations observed by the Model, 21% of voters have turned out, and polling stations close at 6:00 pm.

The Cellule de Veille Electorale is continuing its work and has already held a press conference and produced two press releases, one on the opening and the other on the turnout rate and mid-day progress.