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
  • Georgia: Joint Opinion on Amendments to the Election Code, the Law on Political Associations of Citizens and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament
    The Joint Opinion raises key issues and provides indications of areas of concern. The ensuing recommendations are based on international standards, norms and practices, as for example set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and its additional protocols, as well as the relevant OSCE human dimension commitments, and the Venice Commission’s Code of good practice in electoral matters. The Joint Opinion also highlights, as appropriate, good practices from other Council of Europe member states and OSCE participating States in this field
    Report
    20 March 2021
    View Now
  • Albania: Joint Opinion on the Amendments to the Constitution of 30 July 2020 and to the Electoral Code of 5 October 2020
    The scope of this Joint Opinion covers only the constitutional and legislative revisions officially submitted for review (“the amendments”). In particular, it will not address the amendments brought by law No. 101/2020 adopted on 23 July 2020. Thus limited, the Joint Opinion does not constitute a full and comprehensive review of the entire legal and institutional framework governing elections in Albania.
    Report
    11 December 2020
    View Now
  • Ukraine: Urgent Joint Opinion on the Draft Law 3612 on Democracy through all-Ukraine Referendum
    The Joint Opinion takes note of positive developments but focuses on areas that require further attention or improvement.
    Report
    8 October 2020
    View Now
  • Republic of Moldova: Urgent Joint Opinion on Draft Law 263 Amending the Electoral Code, Contravention Code and Audiovisual Media Services Code
    The Joint Opinion takes note of positive developments but focuses on areas that require further attention or improvements in the draft Law. The ensuing recommendations are based on relevant OSCE commitments, Council of Europe and other international human rights standards, such as the Venice Commission Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters.
    Report
    8 October 2020
    View Now
  • Montenegro: Urgent Joint Opinion on the Draft Law on Elections of Members of Parliament and Councillors
    The Joint Opinion takes note of positive developments but focuses on areas that require further attention or improvements in the draft law.
    Report
    8 October 2020
    View Now
  • Opinion on the Draft Act On Special Rules for the Organisation of the General Election of the President of the Republic of Poland Ordered in 2020 with the Possibility of Postal Voting (Senate Paper No. 118)
    This Opinion was prepared by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a request from the Commissioner for Human Rights of Poland received in May 2020.
    Report
    29 May 2020
    View Now
  • Opinion on the Draft Act on Special Rules for Conducting the General Election of the President of the Republic of Poland Ordered in 2020 (Senate Paper No.99)
    This Opinion was prepared by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a request from the Commissioner for Human Rights of Poland received in April 2020.
    Report
    27 April 2020
    View Now
  • OSCE/ODIHR-Venice Commission Joint Opinion on the Amendments to Some Legislative Acts Related to Sanctions for Violation of Electoral Legislation of Kyrgyzstan
    This Joint Opinion was prepared by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a request from the Deputy Chairperson of Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Joint Opinion was adopted by the Venice Commission on 20 March 2020 through a written procedure which replaced the 122nd session of the Venice Commission, due to the COVID-19 disease and following consultation of the Council for Democratic Elections.
    Report
    24 March 2020
    View Now