Publications

These guidelines detail the components of a legal framework governing elections and the relevant standards for democratic elections. They are intended to contribute to uniformity, reliability, consistency and accuracy in the review and preparation of electoral legislation. Therefore these guidelines can provide guidance to both reviewers of electoral legislation and to national authorities when they draft or amend election-related documents.

This handbook is designed to provide basic guidance on how to observe the use of new voting technologies (NVT) in electoral processes. Several OSCE participating States have implemented or tested NVT during their elections, making use of electronic voting machines, ballot scanners, Internet voting or other electronic means. This handbook is designed to assist election observers in identifying and assessing the various elements of NVT that may impact the conduct of democratic elections.

A summary prepared by the OSCE Presence in Albania

Not available in English

In accordance with the Charter, the Contracting States should have transposed the principles of local self-government, contained in the Charter, into their national legislation in the form of a legal or constitutional norm. The law on local selfgovernment was not adopted at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and provisions on local self-government do not even exist as principles in the BiH Constitution.

The project on Women in Local Elections is being implemented by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in collaboration with the civil society organisation as well as municipality representatives from Bratunc, Bugojno, Jezero, Kalesija, Novo Goražde, Orašje, Olova, Posušje, Srebrenica i Zavidovići. The aim of the project is to improve women's participation in politics as well as their role as voters and representatives in the municipal assemblies. This leaflet is not available in English.

The report highlights concerns on fair trial rights observed during the processing of election-related cases through the justice system in Kosovo. It provides recommendations for the relevant institutions.

A guidebook intended for journalists on how and where they can receive information during the elections. The book prepared by the Freedom of Information Centre is re-printed by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in view of the upcoming Presidential elections in 2013. This guidebook is not available in English.

Freedom of expression and freedom of the media are essential to any democratic process, and the assessment of media coverage of election campaigns is a fundamental part of election observation methodology. This publication provides a succinct explanation of the media-monitoring methodology used by the OSCE/ODIHR in its election observation activities.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide guidance on how to approach voter registration as part of the overall observation of an election. While ODIHR has included voter registration in its general methodology for observing elections, this handbook aims to provide a more systematic and comprehensive approach to observing this critical part of the election process.