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Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - Elections
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Search this siteHow to become an election observer
When a decision is made to observe an election, the ODIHR requests long- and short-term observers by notifying the delegations of OSCE participating States in Vienna.
The procedure for recruiting observers varies from country to country, but the process is generally co-ordinated by the respective foreign ministries. As a rule, it is the sending states that cover the costs of the observers.
For information on national procedures for recruiting observers, please contact the relevant permanent delegation to the OSCE in Vienna.
Please do not contact the ODIHR directly.
The procedure for recruiting observers varies from country to country, but the process is generally co-ordinated by the respective foreign ministries. As a rule, it is the sending states that cover the costs of the observers.
For information on national procedures for recruiting observers, please contact the relevant permanent delegation to the OSCE in Vienna.
Please do not contact the ODIHR directly.
An ODIHR election observer speaks with an official at a polling station in Yerevan during parliamentary elections in Armenia, 12 May 2007. (OSCE/Urdur Gunnarsdottir)
Links
- PUBLICATION: Election Observation Handbook: Fifth edition
- PUBLICATION: Handbook for Long-Term Election Observers
- Permanent delegations to the OSCE
All candidates wishing to be seconded by their governments as short-term or long-term observers should apply through the delegations of the OSCE participating States in Vienna or the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in their respective capitals. - Election experts database
A database for those with extensive election-related experience only.