Many of the most pressing issues facing
professional observers have come to light already. As discussed in Part IV, at
the heart of observers’ work, and their most fundamental challenge, is arriving
at an overall assessment of the electoral process that is clear and meaningful
but not oversimplified. This requires that observer groups judge how to weigh
the relative importance of different parts of the electoral process, different
obligations, and contextual influences in light of an increasing emphasis on standardized
assessment criteria. This paper also has touched on challenges inherent in
using and observing technology, following up on recommendations, avoiding the
legitimization of undemocratic processes, and harmonizing donor approaches with
long-term observation models. Three broad areas deserve further discussion:
- maintaining the
quality of observation and adherence of observer groups to their mandate;
- developing useful
standards for the observation of election technologies; and
- ensuring and
measuring observation’s impact on democratic development.
