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Elections

Recognizing that democratic elections form the basis for legitimate government, the OSCE observes elections throughout its 57 participating States. It also provides technical assistance to improve the legislative and administrative framework for elections in specific countries.

Some OSCE field operations carry out elections-related activities, including training for election commission members, media and police as well as voter education initiatives. They do not, however, take part in election observation missions in their countries of operation.

Latest stories

A polling station official prepares for the start of voting in Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections, Sofia, 12 May 2013.

OSCE/ODIHR report on Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections recommends measures to strengthen public confidence in electoral process and improve media coverage

The early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria on 12 May 2013 were held in a competitive environment, but further efforts are needed to strengthen public confidence in the process and ensure balanced media coverage, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights concludes in its final report on the vote...
Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter and OSCE/ODIHR Director Janez Lenarčič discussed recommendations from ODIHR’s final report on last year’s general elections in the US during a presentation at the Carter Center, Atlanta, 17 July 2013.

ODIHR Director presents recommendations on 2012 US elections to state and civil society representatives

Recommendations from the final report on last year’s general elections in the United States were presented by a team from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Carter Center in Atlanta and the summer conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State in Anchorage between 17 and 19 July 2013...

Online training system for election commissioners in Ukraine developed with OSCE support

KYIV, 17 July 2013 - The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, in co-operation with the Central Election Commission (CEC), presented a recently developed online training system for election commissioners at an event in Kyiv today... ()
The view from the Narikala Citadel over Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. ODIHR deployed an Election Expert Team to Tbilisi to observe the parliamentary by-elections on 27 April 2013.

Parliamentary by-elections in Georgia on 27 April competitive, says OSCE/ODIHR in final report, recommends improvements to legal framework

The parliamentary by-elections held in Georgia on 27 April 2013 were competitive and candidates were able to campaign freely, but aspects of the legal framework could benefit from further review, concludes the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released on 9 July 2013...
A Karpoš Municipality electoral board during the second round of the municipal elections in Skopje, 7 April 2013.

OSCE/ODIHR final report on municipal elections in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia recommends improvements to electoral code and voter lists

Municipal elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were efficiently administered, but further efforts are required to address gaps and ambiguities in the electoral code and improve confidence in the voter lists, concludes the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)...
Sergey Lebedev (r), Executive Secretary of Commonwealth of Independent States, alongside Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, Vienna, 27 June 2013.

CIS Executive Secretary says co-operation must be strengthened in building security community, addressing transnational threats, observing elections

VIENNA, 27 June 2013 - The Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Sergey Lebedev, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council today, highlighted the need to step up co-operation between international organizations in building a security community, addressing transnational threats, including in the context of “Afghanistan post-2014”, and observing elections...
The town of Budva, on Montenegro’s coast. Following an official invitation from Montenegro’s parliament, and in accordance with its mandate, OSCE/ODIHR deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission for the 2013 presidential election.

Public confidence in electoral process could be strengthened, OSCE/ODIHR final report on Montenegro’s April 2013 presidential polls concludes

Montenegro’s presidential election on 7 April 2013 was professionally and efficiently administered but further steps are required to increase public confidence in the electoral process, concludes the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)...
A man scanning the voters list for his name outside a polling station in Elbasan during the Albanian presidential elections, 23 June 2013.

Albania’s elections active and competitive, but mistrust between political forces tainted the environment, international observers say

TIRANA, 24 June 2013 – Albania’s parliamentary elections on 23 June were competitive with active citizen participation throughout the campaign and genuine respect for fundamental freedoms...
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