Election observation is fundamentally an exercise in support
of democracy. Election observers serve as impartial watchdogs who can assess
whether the results of an election truly reflect the will of the people.
Genuine democratic elections do not guarantee democratic governance, but are a
prerequisite for it. They provide political legitimacy for elected leaders and
a foundation from which to govern, reducing the scope for non-democratic
challenges to power. They serve to resolve competition for political power
peacefully and are more likely to lead to stability than non-democratic forms
of succession.
There are two primary types of election observation:
international observation and citizen observation. International and citizen
election observation are activities that have emerged over the last few decades
in an effort to promote transitions to democratic forms of governance.
International observation occurs when governments invite accredited, foreign
groups to observe their elections, while citizen observation is often carried
out by domestic civil society organizations. The objectives and impact of
observers must not be overstated. Election observation's core goals are modest
but important. They are twofold: (1) provide accurate and impartial reporting
on the quality of elections to the public, media, and international community;
and (2) demonstrate the interest of the international community and civil
society in the host country's elections and democratization.
This Topic Area will discuss the basic tenets of both international
and domestic or citizen observation, the origins of election observation;
observation methodologies and tools, relationships among observers and other
electoral stakeholders; and challenges facing international and domestic
observers.
