ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcˇicˇ (right) at a polling station in Comrat, in the autonomous region of Gagauzia, during the 5 April parliamentary elections in Moldova. (OSCE/Jens Eschenbaecher) 9 New Voting Technologies Many OSCE participating States continue to explore the possibilities that new technological advancements offer in terms of democratic participation and more efficient administration of elections. At the same time, other states have realized the limitations and the risks associated with the use or overly rapid introduction of electronic voting. Strong arguments have been raised in favour of these technologies, based on their efficiency, the cost savings they offer and the ways in which they can encourage voter turnout. Counterarguments point to the indispensability of safeguards to ensure adequate transparency and accountability in the use of such voting systems. Electronic voting must carry the same guarantees of reliability, transparency and secrecy as traditional means of voting. This remains crucial to retaining citizens’ trust and confidence in the electoral process and the results of that process. Key challenges in this area include measures to ensure the secrecy of the vote and to eliminate the possibility of tracing individual ballots to identify them with particular voters. Electronic-voting experts have increasingly become part of missions to elections in which electronic voting takes place. Furthermore, ODIHR has participated in international forums on this topic to broaden its knowledge and expertise. The lessons learned are then channelled into updating ODIHR’s methodology to keep it current with these technological advances. ODIHR Annual Report 2009 Activities ODIHR observes and assesses elections as a key element of its mandate and as a foundation for other types of activity and assistance. The findings from ODIHR election reports also serve as a basis for work to assist democratic development by ODIHR, OSCE field operations, other OSCE institutions and other organizations with their own mandates in this field. In 2009, ODIHR’s activities in the field of elections focused on: 55Election observation; 55Follow-up to observation missions; 55Reform of electoral legislation; 55Further development of election observation methodology; 55Observer training; and 55Support for OSCE Partners for Co-operation. Election Observation In 2009, ODIHR deployed missions to 16 elections, including an Expert Group Assessment (EGA) of elections to the European Parliament, which covered 15 participating States. In accordance with its standard methodology, prior to the holding of an election, ODIHR deploys a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to assess the pre-election environment and preparations underway and to recommend the type and scope of mission required. Elements taken into consideration in deciding what mission format to deploy include Elections