“In addition to being a useful instrument for election observers, the handbook is also an excellent self-assessment tool for Central Election Commissions, law-enforcement, judges and lawyers involved in handling of election-related disputes” — Tamar Zhvania, the chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Georgia. However, the handbook is primarily aimed at legal analysts, who are typically tasked with assessing a country’s system for the resolution of electoral disputes, as well as other mission members who may be involved in the observation of election disputes in their respective thematic and geographic areas. However, other international and citizen observer organizations are also using the handbook to help them evaluate the resolution of election disputes. It likewise provides valuable information to other audiences with links to the topic, such as election practitioners, judges, lawyers, civil society activists and academics. Development of the handbook strengthened ODIHR’s engagement with the expert community, while consolidating the methodology for observing the handling of election disputes has reaffirmed the role of international election observation as a human rights exercise as well as a conflict prevention and early warning mechanism. Observing this key aspect of the election process contributes to further protecting and promoting the fundamental rights and freedoms necessary for ensuring democratic elections. Election observation in 2019 Country Election type Election date Moldova Parliamentary 24 February Ukraine Presidential 31 March, 21 April Slovakia Presidential 16 March, 30 March** Estonia Parliamentary 3 March** North Macedonia Presidential 21 April, 5 May Lithuania Presidential 12 May, 26 May** Spain Early parliamentary 28 April** Albania Local 30 June Kazakhstan Early presidential 9 June Ukraine Early parliamentary 21 July Greece Early parliamentary 7 July** Poland Parliamentary 13 October* Belarus Early parliamentary 17 November Romania Presidential 10 November** Uzbekistan Parliamentary 22 December Not starred denotes a full-scale election observation mission comprised of a core team of experts, long-term observers and short-term observers * denotes limited election observation mission comprised of a core team of experts and long-term observers ** denotes either an election assessment mission or an election expert team comprised only of a core team of experts ODIHR 2019 21