Parliamentary Elections, 1 March 2015

ODIHR conducted a NAM from 18 to 21 January 2015 to assess the pre-election environment and the preparations for the parliamentary elections and in order to recommend whether to deploy an OSCE/ODIHR election-related activity for the forthcoming election, and if so, what type of activity best meets the identified needs. The NAM recommended the deployment of an expert team.

Mission Activities

The expert team began work on 15 February and includes three international experts, drawn from three OSCE participating States.

The team will assess the election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will, in particular, look into aspects related to Internet voting, political party and campaign finance, as well as the participation of national minorities.

In line with ODIHR’s methodology for assessment missions, the team will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on election day. Team  members will, however, visit a small number of polling stations across the country to follow election day procedures.

The team, which will remain in Estonia until 5 March, will issue a report approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

Previous Elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has previously assessed parliamentary elections in Estonia in 2011, 2007 and 1999.