OSCE Mission in Kosovo

The running of elections was the hallmark activity of the OSCE in Kosovo. Between 2000 and 2007, the Mission organized five rounds of elections. This included three municipal assembly votes, three ballots for the Assembly of Kosovo, and two voting rounds for mayors. However, the long-term goal of the OSCE’s electoral work was to empower the Kosovo institutions to run their own voting process. To do this, the Mission helped establish and develop local electoral management bodies: the Central Election Commission and the Elections Complaints and Appeals Committee (later renamed from Committee to Panel).

In 2008, the Kosovo institutions assumed the responsibility  for the management of elections. The Mission still provides technical and advisory support, and helps ensure that the electoral management bodies are able to design and implement elections independently. It also organizes training, performance reviews and evaluations. In 2010, the Mission helped set up the Working Group on Elections, a body that includes local and international organizations and has the task of giving technical advice on electoral issues to the Assembly of Kosovo.

In May 2012, the Mission facilitated the Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections for eligible voters in Kosovo. This consisted of logistical support with the transport of election materials and the staffing, setting up and running of polling stations.