10  //  ELECTIONS The OSCE participating States have assigned special importance to ensuring the democratic integrity of elections. In the landmark 1990 Copenhagen Document, participating States committed themselves to upholding the key principles of universality, equality, transparency, secrecy of the vote, accountability, fairness and freedom in elections. ODIHR has been mandated by the participating States to provide assistance in the implementation of election-related commitments through election observation activities and support to the follow-up of recommendations. The Office’s comprehensive election observation methodology is built around the principles of independence, impartiality and professionalism, and seeks to provide needs-focused and long-term analysis of electoral processes in the OSCE region. > Voters at a polling station in Ulaanbaatar preparing to cast their ballots to elect a new president of Mongolia, 26 June 2017. (OSCE/Maria Kuchma)