Parliamentary Elections, 17 October 2004

ODIHR has deployed an election observation mission (EOM) for the parliamentary elections in Belarus on 17 October 2004.

Long-term observation

ODIHR conducted a needs assessment mission (NAM) from 14 to 16 June 2004 in order to assess the conditions and preparations for the elections and to advise on the level of ODIHR involvement in these elections. The NAM recommended that a standard EOM be deployed in early September.

The EOM, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover (United Kingdom), includes 11 international staff based at the Minsk head office and 18 long-term observers deployed in the regions. Two of these were recruited through a voluntary fund established to diversify the national composition of election observation missions.

The mission will assess the entire election process in terms of its compliance with international standards for democratic elections and national legislation. It will focus on the election campaign, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media situation, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Election day

ODIHR plans to deploy some 300 short-term observers shortly before election day. The short-term observers will be deployed across Belarus in teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results at all levels.

The day after the election, the EOM will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A comprehensive final report will be released about a month after the completion of the election process.

Previous elections

ODIHR has observed a number of elections in Belarus, including the 2001 presidential election and the 2000 parliamentary elections.