An election official checking a voter's registration by candlelight at a polling station in Khobi during Georgian parliamentary elections on 2 November. In 2003, the ODIHR also prepared a handbook for monitor- 4. Further development of methodology for observing elections ing women's participation in elections. Evidence shows that the participation of women in all aspects of the electoral process, including as candidates, voters, and in the election administration, is alarmingly low in some parts of the OSCE The ODIHR’s unique and tested methodology provides an in- region. The handbook sets out practical steps to be taken by depth insight into all the necessary elements for a demo- election observation missions to ensure that conclusions cratic electoral process, including the legislative framework, drawn on the extent to which an election meets interna- the administrative preparations, the political campaign, and tional commitments and standards take account of the de- the media. Taking into account that an election is not a one- gree to which women are included in the process. The hand- day event, and in response to the extended mandate that book, which will be published in 2004, will be the first the ODIHR received in 1994 for observation before, during, publication of its kind by an international organization. and after election day, the ODIHR prepared a detailed methodology for observation of the entire electoral cycle. Other work in 2003 to improve specific areas of methodology focused on media monitoring. As part of a project implemented in co-ordination with the European Commission, the ODIHR worked with media-monitoring groups used regularly by election observation missions to prepare a handbook outlining a more comprehensive and standardized approach to media monitoring for publication in 2004. In the future, to ensure that the ODIHR maintains a leading role in the election observation field, methodology will be developed further to include more focus on areas such as observation of voter registration and participation in elections by disabled people. This methodology is described in the ODIHR Election Observation Handbook, first published in 1996, and commonly referred to as the “Bluebook”. In order to reflect further advances in its election observation methodology, the ODIHR revised its Election Observation Handbook in 2003 for publication in 2004. While the ODIHR’s election observation methodology was designed first and foremost to serve OSCE participating States, it has also served as a model for the European Union, the Southern African Development Community, and more recently the African Union, in the development of their own respective election observation activities. In recent years, the 5. Follow-up ODIHR has further developed its methodology to address issues such as gender equality and participation of national At the 1999 Istanbul Summit, participating States pledged minorities in the election process. “to follow up promptly ODIHR's election assessments and 14