Presidential Election, 24 April, 22 May and 4 December 2016
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Country:
Repeat Second Round of Presidential Election, 4 December 2016
Mission at a glance
- Four experts from four participating States, based in Vienna
Mission schedule
- 28 November: Opening of the mission
- 4 December: Election day
- 9 December: Closing of the mission
Following an invitation from the government of Austria, and based on the findings and conclusions of a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM), the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Expert Team (EET) for the 4 December repeat second round of the presidential election.
ODIHR conducted a NAM from 25 to 26 August 2016 to assess the pre-election environment and the preparations for the repeat second round of the presidential election in order to recommend whether to deploy an OSCE/ODIHR election-related activity for the forthcoming election, and if so, what type of activity best meets the identified needs. The NAM recommended the deployment of an expert team.
Mission Activities
The expert team began its work on 28 November and includes four international experts, drawn from four OSCE participating States.
The team will assess the electoral process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will, in particular, look into aspects related to the legal framework for postal voting and election day procedures.
In line with ODIHR’s methodology, the team will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting, and tabulation on election day. Team members will, however, visit a small number of polling stations across the country to follow election day procedures.
The team, which will remain in Austria until 9 December, will issue a report approximately two months after the completion of the electoral process.
Previous Elections
The OSCE/ODIHR previously assessed the 2010 presidential election in Austria. It has also deployed expert teams to Austria in connection with the 2013 parliamentary elections and 2009 European Parliament elections.