Parliamentary Elections, 9 September 2013

Following an official invitation from the Permanent Mission of Norway to the OSCE to observe the parliamentary elections on 9 September 2013, the OSCE/ODIHR deployed an Election Assessment Mission.

ODIHR conducted a NAM from 4 to 6 June 2013 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 assessment mission.

Mission Activities

The mission, headed by Peter Eicher, began work on 26 August. The EAM includes four international staff, drawn from four OSCE participating States.

The mission will assess the election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will, in particular, look into aspects related to the Internet voting pilot project, the new electronic election administration system, and new political finance regulations.

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

The mission, which will remain in the Norway until 11 September, will issue a report approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

Previous Elections

OSCE/ODIHR has previously assessed the parliamentary elections in Norway in 2009. It has also deployed an Election Expert Team to follow the preparations and conduct of the internet voting pilot project during the 12 September 2011 local government elections.