Observation methodology

The EU EOM is led by a Chief Observer supported by a core team that is normally deployed in country about eight weeks prior to election day, with long term observers arriving to observe the preparations for the election at the regional level about five to six weeks before polling. The short term observers then arrive shortly 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, then, after the elections, to publish its findings. As a rule, an EU EOM never operates in a country against the will of the host government.

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 and final report.

A few days following the election, the Chief Observer of the EU EOM issues a public preliminary statement based on long-term and short-term observations of the entire process. Approximately one month after the final results, a comprehensive report is issued, which will include a series of recommendations for improvements to the overall electoral process and democratic environment.

The EU has organised EOMs across the world, including: Sri Lanka, Togo, Tanzania, Guyana, Zimbabwe, Peru, Nicaragua, Ivory Coast, the Palestinian Territories, Indonesia, Bangladesh, East Timor, Suriname, Cambodia, South Africa, Pakistan, Madagascar, Ecuador, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Cambodia, Guatemala, Mozambique, West Bank and Gaza, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Uganda, Afghanistan and Yemen.

EU EOM key objectives

The EOM will assess the conduct of the elections according to international standards.  The term "international standards" refers to the universal and regional instruments which enshrine the political rights and associated freedoms necessary for the conduct of democratic elections and set out a country's legal and political commitments to ensuring them.  In making its assessment, the EOM will consider the following:

- the right and opportunity, without any distinction or unreasonable restrictions, for citizens to participate in government and public affairs through:

• periodic elections
• genuine elections
• universal suffrage
• equal suffrage
• the right to stand for election
• the right to vote
• the right to a secret ballot
• the free expression of the will of voters
• freedom of expression;
• freedom of association;
• freedom of assembly;
• freedom of movement;
• freedom from discrimination;
• the right to an effective legal remedy.

The EOM will also refer to best practice for elections.