Parliamentary Elections, 9 October 2011

In line with OSCE commitments, the Permanent Mission of Poland to the OSCE invited the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) to observe the 9 October parliamentary elections. Based on the recommendation of a Needs Assessment Mission, the OSCE/ODIHR deployed an Election Assessment Mission (EAM) for these elections.

The purpose of the mission will be to assess and report on the overall framework for the conduct of the elections. Experts will focus on the legal framework, implementation of the new unified Election Code (including of the gender quota), political party and campaign financing, as well as the regulation of the media.

As part of the assessment process, the mission will meet with relevant governmental authorities, election administration, candidates, political parties, the judiciary, civil society and the media. In accordance with ODIHR methodology, the ODIHR EAM will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting, or tabulation on election day, but the experts plan to visit a limited number of polling stations to follow election day procedures.

A final report will be issued about two months after the completion of the election process.