odically review their procedures to ensure best electoral practice. In this context, the ODIHR deploys election assessment missions, which consist of a group of experts who arrive in a given country several days prior to Election Day and remain until shortly after Election Day. They make an overall assessment of the administrative and legal framework for the conduct of elections and provide targeted recommendations. An assessment mission does not comment on the process in the same comprehensive manner as an observation mission, and it does not undertake any systematic or comprehensive observation on Election Day. Since 2002, this type of election mission has permitted the ODIHR to follow electoral issues in a broader range of OSCE participating States. Support to OSCE field presences in assessing elections and referenda In 2006, the ODIHR fielded five election support teams comprising a few experts each to support OSCE field presences in following electoral events where an observation or assessment mission was not deployed. An election support team provides expert advice on electoral developments to OSCE field missions that in turn report on the electoral event through their standard OSCE reporting channels. Such teams were deployed in 2006 for parliamentary byelections in Kyrgyzstan, municipal by-elections in Ukraine, municipal elections in three municipalities in Southern Serbia and in Azerbaijan, as well as for the gubernatorial election in Gagauzia, Moldova. II. Reform of electoral legislation A legal framework that does not sufficiently reflect OSCE commitments may not be conducive to the conduct of genuine and meaningful democratic elections. To further develop legislation that enhances and safeguards OSCE commitments for a democratic electoral process, the ODIHR established a voluntary fund in 2001 (Legislative Alert). This fund has permitted the ODIHR to provide expert advice on URDUR GUNNARSDOTTIR Elections electoral reform initiatives, as well as to make recommendations on how to bring legislation into line with OSCE commitments. Review of electoral legislation has become an integral part of ODIHR activities to follow up on recommendations contained in election reports.1 Voters examine their ballot papers as they stand next to lists of candidates during the Ukrainian parliamentary elections on 26 March. III. Methodological development The ODIHR has developed a systematic and comprehensive methodology for long-term observation of elections that encompasses all elements of an election process. The ODIHR’s Election Observation Handbook, published in its fifth edition in 2005, provides the guidelines that observers use to monitor all aspects of an electoral process, beginning with a review of the legal framework, and including the performance of the election administration; the conduct of the campaign; the media environment and equitable media access; the complaints and appeals process; voting, counting, and tabulation; and the announcement of results. 1 See “Legislative Reviews” on p. 82. “To ensure that the will of the people serves as the basis of the authority of government, the participating States will … guarantee universal and equal suffrage to all adult citizens.” — Copenhagen, 1990 Annual Report  13