Long-Term Observers In order to fulfil ODIHR’s commitment to longer term election observation, a core group of long- term observers will be requested from participating States for a period of approximately two months. The work of the long-term observers will be supervised by an on site Co-ordinator. In addition to the Co-ordinator, two key positions that will be designated from among the long-term observers are the regional liaison officer and the deployment officer. Long-term observers are responsible for observing the entire election cycle, and gaining an in-depth understanding of the political environment and the election campaign prior to voting. They will submit weekly reports based on their assessments and findings. These reports will be used to brief short-term observers and will contribute to the final election report. Long-term observers should pay particular attention to the following aspects of the election cycle: voter identification and registration; procedures for registration of candidates and political parties; the extent and effectiveness of civic and voter education; observance by electoral participants to established codes of conduct; the effectiveness of dispute resolution procedures; political rallies and other relevant campaign activities; election administration, especially preparation for the voting and counting phases; the independence of media coverage - in specific cases, the Elections Unit will request an analysis of media issues to be conducted by a specialised agency; overall neutrality and independence of election and government authorities; and immediate post-election complaints and resolution of disputes. The ODIHR On Site Co-ordinator An ODIHR on site Co-ordinator is designated to co-ordinate the activities of both long-term and short-term observers, and will be operational two months prior to the election. The Co-ordinator will liaise closely with the Election Unit /Warsaw on all matters. The Co-ordinator will also consult with OSCE Embassies and with the OSCE Mission staff, if such a Mission is established in the respective country. The Regional Liaison Officer A Regional Liaison Officer will be designated to brief long-term observers and assist their accreditation and other necessary arrangements to facilitate their deployment to their regional posts. Maintain regular contact and visit long-term observers posted in the regions and report this information directly to the ODIHR on site Co-ordinator and brief short-term observers going out to the regions. The Deployment Officer The Deployment Officer will usually arrive three weeks before the election. S/he will assist the on site Coordinator in the development of a deployment plan in liaison with OSCE embassies, ODIHR long-term observers and other observer groups. As well as provide support for incoming international observers (accreditation, general logistical information). Short-Term Observers Short-Term Observers normally arrive a few days before the election, providing a broad presence throughout the country to assess the close of the campaign, election day and the vote count. Short-Term Observers need to receive their accreditation from the relevant authority (normally the Central Election Commission) before they can undertake their observer duties. The ODIHR will provide observers with the necessary information about the accreditation process. While observers normally have to be OSCE ODIHR Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 3 29