The concept of a
non-governmental organization (NGO)— as opposed to other interest groups –
includes that they should work to advance the public interest, in an ethical
manner, and not be organized as profit-making enterprises. Although NGOs are not mainly profit-making,
this does not wholly prevent them from pursuing profit-making activities,
provided that these should be in support of and related to their other goals.
Unlike other interest groups,
which do not normally play a formal role in the electoral process, NGOs may
participate as independent observers.
The NGOs that are registered for this purpose are usually those whose charters
include human rights, democracy and electoral improvement.[1] Often electoral authorities also consider, in
addition to an organization’s charter, its previous activities in the rights,
democracy and election fields.
During elections, NGOs’
observation and reporting activities help make the process more transparent.
NGOs may also help transparency of campaign financing by closely monitoring and
publicly reporting on contributions and spending. They may undertake voter
education programs, sometimes aided by the authorities or international sources
of assistance, and help distribute election information. Beyond the electoral
process per se, they may lobby policy
makers and electoral administrators in support of better electoral policies and
legislation protecting individual rights and freedoms, or for more effective
regulatory legislation, such as on campaign financing.
[1] This
is the case in several Balkan countries, such as the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Romania.
