Newsroom
Election campaign silence comes into effect on Friday in Kosovo
PRISTINA 25 October 2000
PRISTINA, 25 October 2000 - The period of silence on election campaigning by political entities and media coverage of political campaigning in Kosovo will come into effect 24 hours before polling stations open on election day.
The ban will run from 0700 hours on Friday 27 October until polling stations close on Saturday 28 October.
Under the Electoral Code of Conduct, political parties, coalitions, citizens initiatives, candidates and their supporters will not be allowed undertake activities aimed at influencing voters during this period.
These activities include:
The only materials which will be allowed on and around Polling Stations during this period will be important voter information material, produced by the OSCE.
It is important that political entities and their supporters do not put posters over the OSCE informational posters leading up to the election. These posters are crucial voter information material to ensure that the voters go to the correct polling station.
Under the Electoral Rule on the Media during the Election Campaign, print and broadcast outlets are also subject to the period of silence .
This means that no media coverage of any political activities will be allowed in the 24 hours prior to the opening of the polling stations until after they close.
Political activities mean any comments by anyone - a politician, a citizen or a journalist - that are aimed at trying to promote their political entity. This prohibition applies not only to news coverage but also to commentaries and editorials in the broadcast and print media.
Broadcasters should also be advised that any violations of the period of silence rule will also be filed with the Broadcast Licensing Officer and will be considered when their applications for a license is considered in November.
The ban, however, does not prohibit the media from reporting anything about the election. There are several aspects which can be covered on 27 and 28 October.
These include:
For further information, contact Roland Bless, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948, ext. 260 / mobile: (+389-70) 250-576 / e-mail: press@omik.org or website: //www.osce.org/kosovo
The ban will run from 0700 hours on Friday 27 October until polling stations close on Saturday 28 October.
Under the Electoral Code of Conduct, political parties, coalitions, citizens initiatives, candidates and their supporters will not be allowed undertake activities aimed at influencing voters during this period.
These activities include:
- holding election campaign meetings or rallies;
- making use of the local or international media or using megaphones or other public address systems;
- putting up any kind of election campaign materials, such as posters, at Polling Stations or within a 100 metre radius of the Polling Stations.
The only materials which will be allowed on and around Polling Stations during this period will be important voter information material, produced by the OSCE.
It is important that political entities and their supporters do not put posters over the OSCE informational posters leading up to the election. These posters are crucial voter information material to ensure that the voters go to the correct polling station.
Under the Electoral Rule on the Media during the Election Campaign, print and broadcast outlets are also subject to the period of silence .
This means that no media coverage of any political activities will be allowed in the 24 hours prior to the opening of the polling stations until after they close.
Political activities mean any comments by anyone - a politician, a citizen or a journalist - that are aimed at trying to promote their political entity. This prohibition applies not only to news coverage but also to commentaries and editorials in the broadcast and print media.
Broadcasters should also be advised that any violations of the period of silence rule will also be filed with the Broadcast Licensing Officer and will be considered when their applications for a license is considered in November.
The ban, however, does not prohibit the media from reporting anything about the election. There are several aspects which can be covered on 27 and 28 October.
These include:
- any statements by political and international leaders urging people to vote;
- information about the locations of polling stations and the time they are open;
- information about the ballot and how to vote;
- statements by election officials;
- information on election day about the size of the voter turnout;
- information about any problems that are occurring in the voting process;
- information about how the votes will be counted;
- interviews with people voting (although not about how they voted);
- interviews with polling station officials;
- and any other stories that are NOT about political campaign activities or about urging people to vote for some candidate or party.
For further information, contact Roland Bless, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948, ext. 260 / mobile: (+389-70) 250-576 / e-mail: press@omik.org or website: //www.osce.org/kosovo