Skip navigation

0Meta Navigation

× Close search

Navigation

Home Resources Election-related Legal Opinions and Comments
Resources

Election-related Legal Opinions and Comments

Legal books line the shelves of ODIHR's Elections Department. (OSCE/Agnieszka Rembowska) Photo details
  • Assessment of the Election Code of the Kyrgyz Republic as Amended by the Legislative Assembly in the Second Reading on 25 December 2003
    This assessment reviews and comments on the Election Code (hereafter “the Code”) of the Kyrgyz Republic as amended by the Legislative Assembly on 25 December 2003. This assessment is based on an unofficial English translation of the Code, as reflected in 93 articles on 127 pages of text. The OSCE/ODIHR previously commented in November 2003 on proposed amendments to the Code proffered by both executive and legislative branches of government. This assessment supersedes the OSCE/ODIHR November 2003 assessment of proposed amendments. This assessment is provided with the goal of assisting the authorities in the Kyrgyz Republic in their efforts to develop a sound legal framework for democratic elections. However, as previously stated by the OSCE/ODIHR, the extent to which any amendments can have a positive impact will ultimately be determined by the degree to which state institutions and officials implement and uphold the Code.
    Report
    15 January 2004
    View Now
  • Joint Recommendations on the Election Law and the Election Administration in Armenia
    These comments identify the most problematic issues concerning the electoral law in the Republic of Armenia and provide recommendations both on the legal and the administrative framework of the elections. However, the emphasis is on improvements to the Electoral Code.
    Report
    17 December 2003
    View Now
  • Assessment of Pending Amendments to the Election Code of the Kyrgyz Republic
    This assessment reviews and comments on pending amendments to the Election Code (hereafter “the Code”) of the Kyrgyz Republic. The assessment is based on an unofficial English translation of the pending amendments, as reflected in a comparative table consisting of 93 articles provided to the OSCE Centre in Bishkek by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Kyrgyz Republic in July 2003.
    Report
    5 November 2003
    View Now
  • OSCE/ODIHR Comments on Consultation paper by the Electoral Commission on the cycle of Local Elections in England
    The U.K. Electoral Commission (“the Commission”) is an independent advisory body established under legislation enacted in the year 2000. The Commission has already undertaken a number of studies and published several major reports. In January 2003, the Commission was requested by the Government to review the cycle of local elections in England and identify options for simplifying the current cycle. The scope of the review includes elections for principal local authorities (including mayoral elections), the Greater London Authority and parish councils.
    Report
    2 October 2003
    View Now
  • Review of the Preliminary Assessment of the Draft Amended Election Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan
    This assessment of the draft amended Election Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan is offered by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR). The assessment is based on a translated text that was transmitted to ODIHR by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Warsaw. Any legal review conducted on the basis of translated texts may be affected by the quality of the translation.
    Report
    19 September 2003
    View Now
  • OSCE/ODIHR Assessment of Draft Amendments to the Law on Elections to the Majilisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan
    This assessment reviews and comments on pending amendments to the law on elections to the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan. This assessment is based on an unofficial English translation of the amended Election Law, as reflected in 58 articles of current text on 31 pages and nine pages of amendments to 30 articles. The text reviewed has been provided by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (“OSCE/ODIHR”).
    Report
    17 September 2003
    View Now
  • Joint Final Assessment of the Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan
    After a prolonged genesis, the Electoral Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (below “the code”) was adopted by the national parliament (Milli Majlis) on 27 May 2003. The Code governs the conduct of referendums and parliamentary, presidential and municipal elections in one very substantial and comprehensive document. Over the last year, the Venice Commission and the OSCE-ODIHR (below “the two organisations”) engaged in an intensive dialogue with the drafters of the code in order to improve the successive drafts. Both organisations have produced a series of preliminary assessments suggesting a large number of recommendations.
    Report
    1 September 2003
    View Now
  • OSCE/ODIHR Review of Laws for Elections to the Legislative Bodies of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
    Elections to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales are scheduled for 1 May of this year, and elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are planned for 29 May. The OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has been invited by the Government of the United Kingdom to organize an assessment mission for these elections. The elections to the legislative bodies of the devolved administrations will be held concurrently with local elections. This review of the laws of the United Kingdom governing elections to the legislative bodies of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is based primarily on an examination of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 20012 (“NI Elections Order”), as amended. The other statutes and materials listed in the references hereto have also been consulted.
    Report
    14 April 2003
    View Now