Local Elections, 25 October & 15 November 2015

Press conference, 2nd round

Press conference, 1st round

Following an official invitation to observe the local elections in Ukraine, scheduled for 25 October 2015, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 5-7 August 2015, and in accordance with its mandate, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for these elections.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term Observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Tana de Zulueta (Italy), started its work in Ukraine on 10 September. The EOM has a core team of 16 international staff at the head office in Kyiv, drawn from 13 OSCE participating States. One hundered long-term observers are expected to arrive in the country on 17 September and will be deployed in teams of two throughout the regions.

The mission will assess the entire election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national 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 EOM will conduct comprehensive monitoring of the media.

Short-term Observers for the second round of elections

The OSCE/ODIHR requests participating States to second two hundred (200) shortterm observers (STOs) to observe the second round of voting, counting and the tabulation of results. STOs will be deployed in multinational teams of two, under a deployment plan prepared by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM. In the interest of a broad and balanced representation among participating States, the OSCE/ODIHR requests that individual participating States nominate only up to 15 per cent of the total number of requested STOs. Please consult the information sheet.

Election Day

The OSCE/ODIHR will request the secondment of 600 short-term observers from OSCE participating States for election day. Short-term observers will be deployed in teams of two throughout the country to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results at all levels.

The day after the election, the election observation mission will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

Previous Elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed 11 elections since 1998, most recently the 2014 early presidential and early parliamentary elections.

The OSCE/ODIHR has also issued a number of joint opinions on current and draft election legislation, together with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.