ANNUAL REPORT 2004
Elections
it to assist participating States as they make amend-
san observer groups continue to make progress in de-
ments to relevant legislation and thus bring it into
veloping a professional, comprehensive, and systemat-
compliance with OSCE commitments.
ic approach to election observation, however, access to
monitor the process is not always guaranteed, and ob-
Implementation of recommendations: ODIHR rec-
stacles to their effective observation still arise, which is
ommendations are formulated to outline areas where
contrary to OSCE commitments.
further progress is required in order for elections to
comply with OSCE commitments. At the 1999 Istanbul
Summit, OSCE participating States agreed to follow up
Challenges to OSCE
election commitments
promptly on the findings of ODIHR election observation and assessment missions and on subsequent recommendations. In 2004, the ODIHR continued to emphasize post-election dialogue and follow-up with
During the course of the ODIHR’s 2004 election obser-
participating States, highlighting the fact that imple-
vation calendar, a number of worrying trends contin-
mentation of recommendations is vital to ensuring that
ued to be apparent in some OSCE participating States
identified problems are not repeated in future elec-
that directly challenge the principles enshrined in the
tions.
1990 Copenhagen Document. These include:
Attempts to limit competition of parties and candi-
Ongoing and emerging challenges: Ongoing chal-
dates, and ultimately their ideas, which may result in
lenges pertain to the ever-present need to ensure
diminished possibilities for voters’ choices;
transparency, accountability, and confidence in elec-
Refusal of registration and/or de-registration of
toral processes, as well as guaranteeing universal suffrage rights – passive suffrage rights for voters and ac-
candidates in unclear proceedings with the poten-
tive suffrage rights for candidates. In this context, the
tial to impose disproportionate sanctions for minor
participation of women, the inclusion of national mi-
violations;
norities, and access for disabled voters often remain
Misuse of state administrative resources by incum-
outstanding issues that need be followed and ad-
bents;
dressed. The right to vote, free from interference and
Pressure on the electorate to vote in a specific
intimidation, is also an issue for certain vulnerable
manner;
groups of voters, such as the sick and elderly, who may
Media bias, particularly with regard to state-con-
vote at home or in hospital; military personnel, who
trolled media, in favour of incumbents;
may vote in their barracks; and people in detention,
who may vote in prison. Low voter turnout, particular-
Election administrations whose composition is not
ly among young voters, is also another ongoing chal-
sufficiently inclusive to ensure confidence;
lenge. Emerging challenges in the field of elections in-
Lack of sufficient voter-registration guidelines and
clude the development of new voting technologies, such
safeguards to prevent abuse;
as electronic voting, vote-count scanning machines, and
Lack of transparency and accountability during the
potential voting by e-mail or via the Internet.
vote count, the tabulation of the vote, and the
Domestic non-partisan election observation: Obser-
announcement of results;
vation by domestic non-partisan observer groups has
Complaints and appeals procedures that do not
become increasingly important in recent years and is
always permit a timely and effective redress of
likely to gain in significance. While domestic non-parti-
complaints;
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