ODIHR Director presents recommendations on 2012 US elections to state and civil society representatives

Recommendations from the final report on last year’s general elections in the United States were presented by a team from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Carter Center in Atlanta and the summer conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State in Anchorage between 17 and 19 July 2013.

Addressing state and civil society representatives at the Carter Center, ODIHR Director Ambassador Janez Lenarčič noted that the elections took place in a competitive environment and were administered professionally.

“Further steps should however be taken to bring the electoral process closer in line with the United States’ OSCE commitments,” said Lenarčič. “We recognize the specific role afforded to the states in the US Constitution in the organization of elections, but our findings indicate that more can be done at the federal and state level to enhance the conduct of elections.”

Among the report’s 35 recommendations are congressional support for a national body with sufficient resources to provide guidance on election administration, an evaluation of existing measures to register voters, implementation of measures to increase the transparency of campaign financing, full representation rights in Congress for all citizens and a review of restrictions on voting rights for prisoners and ex-prisoners.

Lenarčič emphasized the importance of international election observation, adding that legislation should guarantee access in all states to international observers invited by the United States authorities, to ensure full compliance with OSCE commitments.

ODIHR also discussed ongoing electoral reform efforts at the state level.

The trip follows a visit by Lenarčič to Washington DC in May 2013 where he presented the report’s recommendations to representatives of government agencies and civil society organizations. There, he welcomed the expressed intention of the authorities to address the shortcomings identified in the report.