OSCE/ODIHR final report says Norway’s September parliamentary elections enjoyed high level of trust, recommends improvements to regulation of Internet voting, party financing

Norway’s parliamentary elections on 9 September 2013 enjoyed a high level of confidence among political contestants and the public, while the legal framework provided a generally solid platform for the conduct of democratic elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its final report released on 16 December 2013. More can be done, however, to improve the regulation of internet voting and campaign finance, the report adds.

The report says that the election administration worked professionally and efficiently, and election day was well organized and orderly.

Acknowledging that the election authorities continue to gradually reform the election process, the report notes that certain aspects of the legal framework are still at odds with OSCE commitments and international standards.

In particular the report recommends a review of the obligation imposed on citizens to accept nomination to a candidate list (and potentially be elected) without their consent. It is also recommended that the Election Act be amended to allow independent candidates to stand for election.

Furthermore, the report says that further consideration should be given to providing a right to appeal all election-related matters to a competent court, and that the Political Parties Act should be amended to provide for more timely disclosure of campaign finance.

In its assessment of the Internet voting pilot project, the report recommends that preparations for similar future pilot activities start earlier and that sufficient resources are allocated.