Similar to international observation, the Declaration of
Global Principles sets out a number of conditions that should ideally be met
for citizen observation missions to effectively conduct their work.
- Right to security of the person.
Security conditions in a country should be such that a non-partisan citizen
observer can conduct their work without significant threat to their safety, the
safety of their family or their economic well-being.
- Unimpeded Access to Electoral
Processes and Technologies.
Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) or other governmental organizations
should create conditions for access to polling stations and any other
election-related facilities throughout the electoral process, through provision
of accreditation to citizen observation organizations in a timely and
non-discriminatory manner.
- Transparency. EMBs and governmental authorities should
provide timely access to electoral information and allow scrutiny of election
processes and results; both aggregated and at the polling stations.
- Access to Electoral Complaints.
Citizen observers should have access to complaints of electoral rights
violations reported by parties, candidates, or other electoral stakeholders.
Complaints of electoral rights violations should be reported in a timely
manner.
- Freedom to Association.
Non-partisan citizen observation groups have the right to associate with/seek
financial assistance from other organizations, whether domestic or
international.
- Freedom to Information.
Non-partisan citizen observers have the right to both seek and impart
information, across borders, through the media and internet.
- Right to Timely and Effective
Assistance. International organizations, governments, and foundations that
provide financial and practical support for non-partisan citizen observation
should do so in a timely and effective manner to optimize citizen observation
capacity.
- Non-interference with reporting
and recommendations. All other stakeholders, whether they be funders, or
government authorities should recognize that non-partisan citizen observers
have the right to conduct their own analysis and recommendations and present
them in the time and manner they choose.[i]
The DOGP further emphasizes that these conditions do not
have to be absolutely present in order for citizen observation to take place, but
rather that the degree to which these conditions are present in an electoral
context will affect the ability of non-partisan citizen observers to conduct
their work safely and successfully. Citizen observers can work in extremely
restrictive conditions, while also noting and reporting how these conditions
might be affecting their observation activities.[ii]
