Elections Urdur Gunnarsdottir An OSCE observer checks a list of voters at a polling station in Belgrade during the 21 January parliamentary elections in Serbia. prove useful for ODIHR’s other programmes, as well as for the activities of other institutions and field operations. The Elections Department’s integrated work plan also includes the further development of its methodology, as well as technical-assistance projects and legislative reviews. These activities concentrated in 2007 on the following areas: kkElection observation; kkReform of electoral legislation; kkDevelopments in the methodology of election observation; kkCo-operation with other election observation networks; kkFollow-up; and kkObserver training. I. Election observation Election observation has two principal objectives: (1) to determine whether a particular election meets OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, and whether it is conducted in compliance with national legislation, which should reflect OSCE commitments; and (2) to offer recommendations, where necessary, to support governments in implementing improvements for future elections. The purpose of election observation is not simply to commend those countries that conduct their elections well or to criticize those that fall short of meeting their commitments. Instead, ODIHR offers proactive and constructive input, whereby it not only calls 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 line with OSCE commitments. In the course of 2007, ODIHR deployed over 3,000 observers to nine election observation missions. In an effort to expand the geographic composition of observation missions, 87 shortterm and 23 long-term observers were financed through 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 Election observation missions 12 Country Type of Election Date Serbia Parliamentary 21 January Albania Local 18 February Armenia Parliamentary 12 May Moldova Local 3 and 17 June Kazakhstan Parliamentary 18 August Ukraine Parliamentary 30 September Croatia Parliamentary 25 November Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary 16 December Uzbekistan Presidential 23 December Annual Report 2007