OSCE election analysts to follow US mid-term elections

WASHINGTON, 24 October 2006 - The OSCE's election observation body, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, has deployed an Election Assessment Mission for the 7 November mid-term congressional elections in the United States.

This follows an invitation from the U.S. authorities.

Giovanni Kessler from Italy, former Deputy President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, leads the mission of 16 election analysts from 13 OSCE participating States.

Following a briefing in Washington DC, the analysts will be deployed across the United States to meet the relevant State electoral authorities and political parties and candidates participating in the elections.

OSCE/ODIHR election analysts will follow campaign activities, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of election disputes. They will be guided by OSCE commitments, international standards and best practices for holding democratic elections, as well as national legislation, including the 2002 Help America Vote Act, which amongst other things introduced reform of voting technologies.

Although the mission may visit some polling stations on election day, no systematic observation of polling station procedures will take place. A final report with findings and recommendations will be issued approximately 8 weeks after the elections.

An OSCE/ODIHR mission was in United States during the 2004 presidential election and 2002 mid-term elections.