EU Observation Methodology

EU Election Observation Missions (EUEOMs) are led by a Chief Observer and include a Deputy Chief Observer, Long-Term Observers and Short-Term Observers who are deployed in three stages.

The core team normally arrives in country more than one month before election day, with the Long Term Observers arriving to observe preparation for the election at the regional level several weeks before election day. The Short Term Observers then arrive the week before election day in order to increase the observation capacities of the mission during polling, counting and the aggregation of results.

An observation mission does not interfere in the electoral process and has no authority to change, improve or correct any shortcomings or to request changes during the election process. The observation mission has only the mandate to collect and verify information concerning the election process, to analyse the observations and. After the elections, it publishes its findings. An EU EOM never operates in a country against the will of the host government or authority.

The purpose of EU EOMs around the world is to provide support for the development of the country's democratic institutions and procedures, and to assist partner countries in their objective to hold elections of a high standard.


EUEOM Key Objectives

The European Commission Communication on Electoral Assistance and Observation states that the main objectives of election observation are:

• to legitimise an electoral process, where appropriate,

• to enhance public confidence in the electoral process,

• to deter fraud,

• to strengthen respect for human rights, and

• to contribute to resolution of conflict.

This is a comprehensive set of objectives which requires a comprehensive methodology. The challenge for EU election observation, therefore, has been to develop a long-term election observation methodology, which covers all phases of the election cycle: pre-election, election day/s and immediate post-election.

The staged deployment of a Core Team, LTOs and STOs should permit an in-depth analysis and thorough assessment of the entire election process: the legislative framework, the administrative preparations, the election campaign and related human rights issues. It also covers voting, counting procedures and the aggregation of results.

In recent years the EU has organised EOMs in many places across the world, including:

Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tanzania, Guyana, Zimbabwe, Peru, Nicaragua, Ivory Coast, the Palestinian Territories, Indonesia, Bangladesh, East Timor, Suriname, Cambodia, South Africa, Pakistan, Madagascar, Equador, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Cambodia, Guatemala and Mozambique.

An observation mission assesses all aspects of the electoral process including: the delimitation of constituencies, the registration of voters and candidates, the training of election staff, voter education, media coverage, the campaign and the preparations for election day as well as the appeals process. It also makes an assessment of the constitutional and electoral framework. On election day, observers visit polling stations in order to observe the opening, voting, the counting and the aggregation of results. Included in the observations will also be whether or not the elected candidates are duly installed in office.

Regular meetings are held with election officials at national, regional and local levels, political parties, candidates, civil society and media throughout the country. Observers clearly distinguish between complaints, rumours, accusations and verified facts. Only facts that are witnessed or verified by the observers, will be used as the basis of the mission's report. Furthermore, although the mission co-operates with other observer organisations, only information collected by its own international observers will be used for the mission's statement.

A few days after the election, the Chief Observer issues a public preliminary statement based on the long-term and short-term observations of the entire process.

Approximately one month after the final results, a more comprehensive report is issued, which may include a series of recommendations for improvements to the overall electoral process and democratic environment.

The Seven Criteria

The European Union adopted the following seven election assessment criteria in 2000:

Observer Code of Conduct