OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission for presidential election in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, 13 May 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission to monitor the 26 June presidential election in Mongolia.

ODIHR was invited by the  government of Mongolia  to observe the presidential election, in line with the country’s commitments as an OSCE participating State.This is the first ODIHR election observation mission deployed to Mongolia, which became an OSCE participating State at the end of 2012.

The mission is headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover and consists of 12 international experts based in Ulaanbaatar and 26 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country. The experts and observers are drawn from 24 countries.

The mission will assess the presidential election for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legislative framework and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from relevant authorities, political parties and with candidates, as well as with representatives from civil society, the media and the international community. On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results at all levels.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

For further information please see:

//www.osce.org/odihr/elections/101349

or contact Elma Šehalić, Media Analyst, ODIHR Election Observation Mission on +976 99 485 074, or at elma.sehalic@odihr.mn; or Thomas Rymer, ODIHR Spokesperson, on + 48 609 522 266 or thomas.rymer@odihr.pl