Parliamentary Elections, 16 October 2016
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Mission at a glance
- Head of Mission: Roman Jakič (Slovenia)
- Core team of 12 staff from 9 participating States, in Podgorica
- 12 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country
- 100 short-term observers to be requested from participating States
Mission schedule
8 September: Opening press conference
13 September: Arrival of long-term observers
14 September: Briefing of long-term observers
15 September: Deployment of long-term observers
12 October: Arrival of short-term observers
13 October: Briefing of short-term observers
14 October: Deployment of short-term observers
16 October: Election day
17 October: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
18 October: Departure of short-term observers
22 October: Departure of long-term observers
26 October: Departure of the core team
Following an official invitation to observe the parliamentary elections scheduled for 16 October 2016, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 16 to 20 May 2016, and in accordance with its mandate, the OSCE/ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for these elections.
The OSCE/ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro operate separately under their specific mandates.
Long-term observation
The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Roman Jakič, consists of 12 international experts based in Podgorica. In addition, 12 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 15 September.
The OSCE/ODIHR EOM will assess these elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor voter registration, candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.
Short-Term observers
The OSCE/ODIHR requests participating States to second one hundred (100) short-term observers (STOs) to observe voting, counting and the tabulation of results. STOs will be deployed in multinational teams of two, under a deployment plan prepared by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM. In the interest of a broad and balanced representation among participating States, the OSCE/ODIHR requests that individual participating States nominate only up to 15 per cent of the total number of requested STOs. Please consult the information sheet and register on the STO database.
Election Day
The OSCE/ODIHR will request 100 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 16 October elections. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.
The day after the election, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.
Co-operation with Other Partners
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe plan to deploy observer delegations for these elections.
Previous elections
The OSCE/ODIHR has observed five elections since Montenegro declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, most recently the 2013 presidential election.