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Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
OSCE/ODIHR term observers (LTOs). ODIHR came to the conclusion that meaningful deployment of short-term observers (STOs) for election day would not be feasible. Instead
Election of an EOM, requiring STOs for Election Day, ODIHR will deploy a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) with a core team of experts and LTOs. The
Observation ODIHR LEOM plans to begin observation activities in Washington, D.C. on September 28, 2020. This will be the ninth time the OSCE has observed elections in the United States since 2002. United States of America 2020 About ODIHR observation As a participating state of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), the United States The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security of America, through the State Department, has invited organization, bringing together 57 participating States the OSCE to observe the November 3, 2020 elections. from Europe, Central Asia and North America. The OSCE The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is not an agency of the United Nations. The OSCE has a (ODIHR) is the primary OSCE institution responsible for comprehensive approach to security that encompasses election observation. politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security- No electoral system or process is perfect. The reports related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and of election observation missions are intended to help security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, participating States to improve their electoral processes democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and for the benefit of their citizens. The 57 participating States economic and environmental activities. The principal way enjoy equal status but have varying degrees of experience the OSCE does this is by observing elections in participating and history with democracy. In consideration of the States, which have committed themselves to uphold the specific requirements at a given place and time, ODIHR key principles of democratic elections: universality, equality, conducts Needs Assessment Missions (NAM) to determine transparency, vote secrecy, accountability, fairness, and the nature of the election activity for each election. respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.
Based on the findings of mission to assess the need ODIHR election observation missions assess the degree for observation of these elections between May 29 to which elections meet OSCE commitments and other to June 5, 2020, in accordance with its mandate, international obligations and standards for democratic ODIHR announced its intention to deploy an Election elections, as well as their compliance with national legislation. Observation Mission (EOM) to follow both long-term Since its establishment in 1991, ODIHR has sent observers aspects of the elections and election-day procedures to more than 370 elections, in 56 OSCE participating States. on November 3. However, the extraordinary In 2019 alone, ODIHR observed 15 elections in Moldova, circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic Ukraine, Slovakia, Estonia, North Macedonia, Lithuania, and the existing travel restrictions throughout the Spain, Albania, Kazakhstan, Greece, Poland, Uzbekistan, OSCE region negatively affected the ability of the Belarus and Romania. Each year the United States sends OSCE participating States to second long-term over 250 observers to join ODIHR’s election observation observers, resulting in a significant shortfall of long- missions in other OSCE participating states. osce.org/odihr
Basis for the assessment of elections ensuring the integrity of the election involving new voting technologies. The report of the mission was published on The basis for ODIHR’s assessment is the OSCE 3 July 2020 and is available on the ODIHR website. commitments outlined in the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document and other international obligations and Depending on its findings, a NAM may recommend one standards for democratic elections, as well as federal of four possible formats for election-related activity: a and state legislation. State legislation is particularly full-scale EOM, LEOM, an Election Assessment Mission important, given the specific role in organizing elections (EAM), a mission without LTOs, or the deployment of a afforded to the states in the U.S. Constitution. Election smaller Election Expert Team (EET). The 2020 ODIHR observers do not interfere with the election process NAM to the United States of America recommended in any way. There is an important distinction between the deployment of an EOM to observe the general monitoring and observing elections. Unlike monitoring, elections. In addition to a core team of analysts, the which implies a degree of authority, observation is the mission recommended the secondment of 100 LTOs from process of systematically analyzing elections and issuing OSCE participating States to follow the electoral process a report without the authority or mandate to enforce countrywide for six weeks, and 400 STOs to follow changes. Recommendations are, therefore made in the election-day proceedings. However, faced with limited spirit of improvement towards shared commitments. secondments of observers from states, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ODIHR will now be deploying a ODIHR Needs Assessment Missions LEOM composed of a core team and 30 LTOs. In line with the ODIHR’s standard methodology, the LEOM will also The decision to send an election observation activity is contain a media monitoring element. based on the findings of a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) carried out by ODIHR several months before the Structure and format of a Limited election. ODIHR conducted a NAM for the 2020 United States General elections from May 29 to June 5, 2020. The Election Observation Mission NAM is a fact-finding visit with the goal of assessing election preparations. Based on its assessment it recommends An EOM is recommended when a NAM determines that whether to deploy an election observation activity prior to election stakeholders have serious concerns about election an election and the optimal format of a mission. A public administration, the long-term process and election-day report is issued in the weeks following the NAM visit. Unlike proceedings, or where it deems that the presence of mission reports following an election, the NAM report does observers could enhance public trust in the process. In an not draw any conclusions about the election. NAM visits are LEOM a core team of analysts are based in the capital of undertaken by ODIHR in all participating States. the country where the election is being held, LTOs are sent to its various regions, but no STOs are deployed to monitor During the NAM for these elections, the ODIHR team met election-day proceedings. While the duration of an LEOM with a range of federal institutions, as well as media, civil is similar to that of standard EOMs, in order to allow it to society, political parties and representatives of election follow all aspects of the long-term election process, the administrations. The meetings provided a thorough LEOM will not undertake a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the level of preparations and any potential observation of election-day proceedings. challenges. The NAM looked at the legal framework and technical arrangements and considered the concerns The LEOM to the 2020 United States elections will of key political stakeholders. As technology plays a start its work in Washington, D.C. on September 28, particularly significant role in elections in the United States, 2020. The mission will be led by Ambassador Urszula the NAM also enquired about the plans for key events, Gacek (Poland) and will be composed of 14 experts such as the production of voter credentials, public tests from 12 OSCE countries and 30 Long-Term Observers of the equipment and other key steps and procedures from 13 countries. The ODIHR mission will work closely with observers from their observations into a report, which is then shared with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, who expect to deploy the United States government and the public. some 80 members of parliaments of OSCE countries to observe election day procedures across the United States. What will be observed? Selection and vetting of observers Below is a list of issues that LTOs may pay special attention to during these elections: The experts in the core team based in Washington have been recruited directly by ODIHR; they are leading • The legal framework, including federal and state international experts in their field. Most LTOs are sent election legislation; directly by participating States, which means that they • Election administration, including voter registration, are selected and have their expenses paid for by the voter identification, alternative voting mechanisms and governments of their countries. This is standard ODIHR measures to ensure secrecy of the vote; practice. Some of the observers are also recruited by • Constituency delimitation, including the role of the ODIHR from countries that do not regularly second United States Census in creating voting districts and observers to help diversify the mission composition and the mechanisms for delimitation; echo the inter-governmental nature and diversity of the • New voting technologies, focusing on the type of OSCE. Most importantly, observers do not represent their technology used in the elections, certification and respective governments. They are thoroughly briefed by evaluation of these technologies; ODIHR, are obliged to follow ODIHR’s election observation • The campaign environment; methodology, and are bound by ODIHR’s code of conduct • Campaign finance; and for election observers. Observers must meet the existing • Coverage of these elections by the media, including visa requirements of any country they are entering for online media. election observation. ODIHR election observation is funded by all 57 participating States of the OSCE through COVID-19 and election observation the unified budget of the organization. The ability of election observers to conduct their work has Deploying Observers been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding the pandemic and the restrictions on ODIHR aims to ensure balanced geographical coverage global travel, since the declaration of the pandemic, in its election observation, considering the different ODIHR has been able to observe elections in Croatia, electoral laws and practices across the United States, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, particularly the extent to which the individual states permit North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Tajikistan and Ukraine. international observation. In the past, observers have been deployed to a broad variety of states to ensure Despite restrictions on travel between certain parts of the this coverage. LTOs are assigned to work in teams of OSCE region and the United States, observers have been two, with each observer from a different country. They granted national-interest waivers by the State Department produce a joint report and their different backgrounds that will permit them to be present in the country for the and perspectives help ensure balance and neutrality in elections. As with all aspects of their work, observers are reporting. During their work, LTOs meet with various state required to respect the laws and regulations with regards officials, as well as representatives of political parties, to travel within the United States and observation of the civil society and the media, and convey the information electoral process. Observers will respect all precautions gathered to the core team. For these elections, the LTO and necessary restrictions particularly those applied at teams will deploy to 28 states between October 5 and polling stations. November 8. After the elections, the mission compiles osce.org/odihr
What can election authorities do Previous ODIHR Election Missions to prepare for observers? to the US: Sharing materials, including basic facts about the 2018 – Limited Election Observation Mission elections in their particular state, can be very useful for 2016 – Election Observation Mission observers. This may include, for example, the number of 2012 – Limited Election Observation Mission voters, methods of voter registration and identification, 2010 – Election Assessment Mission candidate registration information, the composition 2008 – Limited Election Observation Mission of electoral boards, the election timeline, early voting 2006 – Election Assessment Mission methods, the use of electronic voting systems, the number 2004 – Election Observation Mission (of a targeted nature) and location of polling stations, and any requirements to 2002 – Election Assessment Mission register as an observer on Election Day, including those relating to COVID-19.
OSCE Contact: Further Information
Hama Munyikwa • Video on ODIHR Election Observation: ODIHR Election Adviser/Desk Officer for the United States http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/179516 Email: hama.munyikwa@odihr.pl • All ODIHR United States reports: Phone: + 48 22 5200 673 http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/usa Website: www.osce.org/odihr/elections/usa • ODIHR Election Observation Handbook: http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/68439
More information For detailed information about ODIHR’s activities, or to read any of ODIHR’s publications and reports, please visit www.osce.org/odihr
or contact ODIHR at: Cover photo: 2009 Joshua Nathanson
OSCE Office for Democratic Phone: +48 22 520 0600 Institutions and Human Rights Fax: +48 22 520 0605 Public Affairs E-mail: office@odihr.pl ul. Miodowa 10 www.osce.org/odihr 00-251 Warsaw Poland