Parliamentary Elections, 15 March 2017

Following an official invitation to observe the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, scheduled for 15 March 2017, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 23 to 25 January 2017, and in accordance with its mandate, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Assessment Mission (EAM) for these elections.

Mission at a glance

• Head of Mission: Miklós Haraszti (Hungary)
• Core team  of five experts from five OSCE participating States, based in The Hague

Mission schedule

• 1 March: Opening of the mission

• 15 March: Election day

• 18 March: Closing of the mission

The OSCE/ODIHR EAM, headed by Miklós Haraszti (Hungary), began its work in the Netherlands on 1 March. The EAM includes five international staff, drawn from five OSCE participating States.

The mission will assess the election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will, in particular, look into the implementation of a recently revised legal framework and new campaign finance rules, the administration of alternative voting methods, accessibility for persons with disabilities, the conduct of the campaign, and the complaints and appeals process.

In line with OSCE/ODIHR methodology, the OSCE/ODIHR EAM will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on election day. Mission members will, however, visit a small number of polling stations on election day.

A final report will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

Previous Elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has previously observed three elections in the Netherlands, most recently the 2012 early parliamentary elections.