Presidential Election, 15 October 2003

ODIHR deployed an election observation mission for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan on 15 October 2003.

Election legislation

These elections will be the first conducted under the new Election Code adopted on 27 May 2003. For a year beginning in September 2002, the Venice Commission and ODIHR engaged in a sustained dialogue with the drafters in order to improve the successive drafts of the code.

A series of joint ODIHR and Venice Commission legal assessments made a large number of recommendations. Many were taken into consideration, which contributed to the substantial transformation of the code.

Long-term observation

ODIHR conducted a needs assessment mission from 9 to 12 July 2003 in order to assess the conditions and preparations for the elections and to advise on the level of ODIHR involvement in these elections.

The Mission, headed by Peter Eicher (United States), includes 11 international staff based at the Baku head office and 20 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.

Before, during, and after election day, the Mission will assess the entire election process against national legislation and international standards for democratic elections agreed to by all OSCE participating States. Observers will closely monitor the entire electoral process, including campaign activities, media coverage, administrative preparations, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Election day
 
ODIHR plans to deploy some 500 short-term observers shortly before election day. The short-term observers will be deployed across Azerbaijan 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 mission will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A comprehensive final report will be released one month after the completion of the election process.

Previous elections

ODIHR has observed a number of elections in Azerbaijan, including the 1998 presidential election, the 2000 parliamentary election, the 1995 parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum, the 1993 presidential election, and the 1993 referendum.

The election legislation foresees a second round if none of the candidates obtains an absolute majority during the first round. In case of a second round, ODIHR will maintain its presence.