Elections OSCE/Jens Eschenbaecher An ODIHR election observer (left) speaks to officials at a polling station in Podgorica during the 6 April 2008 presidential election in Montenegro. institutions and field operations. This includes further work to develop ODIHR’s election observation methodology, the development and implementation of technical-assistance projects, and legislative reviews. In 2008, these activities concentrated on the following areas: kk Election observation; kk Follow-up to observation missions; kk Reform of electoral legislation, kk Development of election observation methodology; kk Observer training. I. Election observation In 2008, ODIHR assisted a broad range of OSCE participating States in efforts to conduct elections in line with OSCE commitments. This was achieved primarily through election observation activities, which are guided by two principal objectives: (1) to assess whether an election meets OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, and whether it is conducted in accordance with national legislation; and (2) to offer subsequent recommendations for consideration by the participating State in question to help improve its electoral processes and legislation for subsequent votes. The purpose of election observation is not to commend or criticize those countries in which ODIHR deploys observation missions. Instead, the Office offers constructive feedback and provides concrete recommendations to rectify shortcomings. Over the course of 2008, ODIHR published more than 50 election-related reports and statements, in line with the overriding objective of fulfilling its mandate in a transparent and accountable manner. According to standard election observation methodology, the type and scope of ODIHR election observation missions is determined in the course of a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM), deployed several months before the election in question. Due to budgetary constraints, however, a NAM is not deployed in every case where an election is being held in a participating State. The Office deployed 12 electoral missions within the OSCE region in 2008, including 10 Observation Missions, with a particular focus on votes in South-Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus. ODIHR also deployed two Election Assessment Missions to longer-established Annual Report 2008 11