Democratization Zoran Đokovicˇ, an ODIHR Adviser on Migration and Freedom of Movement, presents ODIHR’s assessment of the voter registration system in Moldova, as well as plans for the establishment of a state voter register, Chisinau, 27 July 2012. (OSCE/Goran Petrov) state population register and the simplification of procedures for residency registration. To this end, ODIHR conducted an assessment of the prospects for the establishment of a nationwide population register. Findings and recommendations from the assessment helped the authorities in determining the optimal technical model for the implementation of the state population register. ODIHR also supported the development of a legislative framework for the functioning of the population register. These activities contributed to the government’s decision to establish a population register in 2013 that will operate on the basis of legislation developed with ODIHR assistance. Voter and Population Registration In many OSCE participating States, the voter register is linked to the population register or compiled from it. In such cases, the quality of the population register directly affects the exercise of universal and equal suffrage. In those participating States that use data from the population register to compile voter lists, ODIHR provides advice and expertise to ensure synergies and effective linkages between voter registers and population-registration systems, as part of its ongoing assistance to participating States to ensure follow-up on recommendations from ODIHR election observation missions. On 14 March in Dushanbe, ODIHR, in partnership with the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of Tajikistan, organized a roundtable discussion on measures to develop effective links between population and voter registration in Tajikistan, as well as on reforms to the country’s legal electoral framework. The roundtable brought together government representatives, political parties and NGOs to explore the possibilities and challenges associated with creating a centralized voter register in Tajikistan based on information from the country’s existing public registers. Upon the request of the Central Election Commission of Moldova, ODIHR conducted an assessment of Moldova’s “Elections” electronic election-management system and the voter registration system. Findings and recommendations from the assessment report were presented and discussed at a roundtable held in Chisinau on 26 July. On the basis of the assessment report, the Central Election Commission now plans to develop an action plan to improve the voter-registration system and to approach the Government and the Parliament for their support in its implementation. ODIHR Annual Report 2012 39