URDUR GUNNARSDOTTIR Elections A woman checks the voter list in Kvemo Khartli during municipal elections in Georgia, 5 October. attention to specific areas for possible improvement, but also makes recommendations and provides assistance to rectify any shortcomings. Election observation has thus become an effective service that is provided among OSCE participating States to enhance the integrity of electoral processes. In the course of 2006, the ODIHR deployed over 2,700 observers to 10 election observation missions. In an effort to expand the geographic composition of observation missions, 70 shortterm and 28 long-term observers were financed through the ODIHR’s Fund for Enhancing the Diversification of Election Observation Missions. This voluntary fund was established in 2001 to ensure broader participation of nationals from 19 participating States that may not be in a position to regularly second observers. Election assessment missions Since elections in longer-established democracies are expected to meet OSCE commitments and also enjoy greater public confidence, bettertested electoral practices, and checks and balances such as an independent judiciary, a more robust civil society, and pluralistic media, the deployment of comprehensive long-term election observation missions involving hundreds of observers would not appear to be necessary or even realistic in the face of limited resources. There is proven value, however, in following electoral issues and developments in longerstanding democracies and post-transition countries in the OSCE region, as all participating States are equally bound by the 1990 Copenhagen commitments, and therefore should peri- Election Assessment Missions 12 Country Type of Election Date Canada Parliamentary 23 January Italy Parliamentary 9-10 April Bulgaria Presidential 22/29 October United States General (mid-term) 7 November Netherlands Parliamentary 22 November Annual Report 