EU EOM observation methodology

The EU EOM is led by a Chief Observer supported by a core team that is normally deployed in country about eight weeks prior to election day, with long-term observers arriving to observe the preparations for the election at the regional level about five to six weeks before polling. The short-term observers then arrive shortly before election day in order to increase the observation capacities of the mission during polling, counting and the aggregation of results.

An observation mission does not interfere in the electoral process and has no authority to change, improve or correct any shortcomings or to request changes during the election process. The observation mission has only the mandate to collect and verify information concerning the election process, to analyse the observations and, then, after the elections, to publish its findings. As a rule, an EU EOM never operates in a country against the will of the host government.

To attain its objectives, a detailed methodology has been developed covering all aspects of an electoral process: the pre-election period, the days of the election and the period following the vote. The sectors that are observed include the legal framework, the organisational aspects, the electoral campaign and issues related to Human Rights, the political context and the role of the media.

Based on the reports of the observers and other information, the core team analyses the electoral process per sector: electoral, political, legal and the media. It analyses the work of the electoral administration and issues related to the electoral campaign.

Regular meetings are held with election officials at national, regional and local levels, political parties, candidates, civil society and media throughout the country. Observers clearly distinguish between complaints, rumours, accusations and verified facts. Only facts that are witnessed or verified by the observers will be used as the basis of the mission's report. Furthermore, although the mission co-operates with other (observer) organisations, only information collected by its own international observers will be used for the mission's statement and final report.

Within 48 hours following the election, the Chief Observer of the EU EOM issues a public preliminary statement based on long-term and short-term observations of the entire process. Approximately one month after the final results, a comprehensive report is issued, which, if necessary, will include a series of recommendations for improvements to the overall electoral process.

The EU has deployed EOMs to a number of countries, including Sri Lanka, Togo, Tanzania, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Peru, Nicaragua, Ivory Coast, Palestine, Indonesia, Bangladesh, East Timor,Suriname, Cambodia, South Africa, Pakistan, Madagascar Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Mozambique.

The criteria for the evaluation of an election based on a number of international standards are

. The degree of impartiality of the electoral administration;
. The degree of freedom that different stakeholders in the elections enjoy;
. The use of public funds during the elections;
. The degree of equitable access to the media enjoyed by different political parties and candidates;
. The work of the voting stations;
. All other aspects relevant to the democratic nature of the electoral process (violent incidents during the electoral period, legal framework, election system, etc.)