Elections manent Council and the Chairmanship is crucial in this regard, as is that of the OSCE field missions. Finally, the ODIHR plans to continue to cooperate closely with domestic non-partisan observer groups to build their capacity to advocate for electoral reform based on ODIHR recommendations. As election stakeholders, these groups could engage in advocacy activities for legal reform using ODIHR recommendations as benchmarks. an opportunity to take part in ODIHR observation missions as a result. This has enabled the ODIHR to draw on a rich diversity of experience and enhance relations with officials and NGO representatives from 19 OSCE states that do not regularly second observers. The ODIHR is committed to reinforcing its efforts to further diversify the composition of its election observation missions by seconding an increased number of long- and short-term observers for each mission, subject to the availability of funds. New voting technologies Co-operation with members of parliament In recent years, new voting technologies have been used with increasing frequency. These technologies can pose challenges to the perceptions of transparency and accountability in an election process, as well as challenges to observing electronic voting. Key aspects of new voting technologies should be observable, and such systems should be introduced with appropriate safeguards to better ensure accountability, transparency, and public confidence. Broad public confidence is considered a prerequisite for the introduction of new election technologies. Electronic voting systems must meet the same democratic commitments and principles applied to traditional systems and modalities of voting, especially the principles of transparency, secrecy of the vote, and accountability. The ODIHR is committed to further examining the challenges surrounding the consideration and introduction of new voting technologies by increasingly including e-voting experts in relevant election missions. Furthermore, the ODIHR will continue to consider adaptations to its election observation methodology to take account of new developments in the field of voting technologies. This will be pursued through discussions at the expert level and through the publication of guidelines on observation of electronic voting. Members of parliament have first-hand experience with election processes both as candidates and as elected officials. They therefore have an important role to play as election observers, as well as potential partners for follow-up to facilitate implementation of recommendations resulting from observation missions. For these reasons, the ODIHR seeks to continuously strengthen co-operation with international parliamentary assemblies within the context of its methodological framework for comprehensive election observation. Diversification of election observation missions Since the ODIHR established its voluntary Diversification Fund in 2001, nearly a thousand long- and short-term observers have had Annual Report  19