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Activities

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.

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Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), seen here at the OSCE Summit in Astana in December 2010, visited Washington DC to present the final report of the Limited Election Observation Mission for last year’s general elections in the United States.

OSCE/ODIHR presents recommendations from final report on 2012 general elections in the United States

Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), was in Washington DC from 21 to 23 May 2013 to present the final report of the Limited Election Observation Mission for last year’s general elections in the United States...
ODIHR has translated a number of publications into Arabic to serve as a basis for the exchange of good practices and transfer of knowledge from the OSCE region to the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation.

OSCE/ODIHR shares expertise with citizen election observer groups in Tunisia

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) provided expertise on effective election observation reporting at a workshop for leaders of Tunisian citizen election observer groups in Tunis on 16 and 17 May 2013...
File photo: The Albanian parliament in a plenary sitting.

OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for parliamentary elections in Albania

TIRANA, 15 May 2015 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission to monitor the 23 June parliamentary elections in Albania... ()

OSCE/ODIHR election observers to hold press conference in Tirana on Wednesday

TIRANA, 14 May 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference in Tirana on Wednesday, 15 May for the formal opening of the election observation mission for the 23 June 2013 parliamentary elections in Albania... ()
A polling-commission member stamps ballots at a polling station in Sofia during parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, 12 May 2013.

Bulgaria’s elections competitive and well run, but trust in process is lacking, international observers say

SOFIA, 13 May 2013 – Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections on 12 May were held in a competitive environment, fundamental freedoms were respected, and the administration of elections was well managed, although the campaign was overshadowed by a number of incidents that diminished trust in state institutions and the process was negatively affected by pervasive allegations of vote-buying, international observers said in a statement today...
Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar. ODIHR opened its first-ever election observation mission to Mongolia on 13 May 2013.

OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission for presidential election in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, 13 May 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission to monitor the 26 June presidential election in Mongolia...

OSCE/ODIHR election observers to hold press conference in Ulaanbaatar on Monday

ULAANBAATAR, 10 May 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference in Ulaanbaatar on Monday, 13 May for the formal opening of the election observation mission for the 26 June 2013 presidential election in Mongolia...

International election observers in Bulgaria to hold press conference on Monday

SOFIA, 10 May 2013 – The international observers monitoring the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 13 May, in Sofia...
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