Election observation
The Riksdag regularly sends members of the Riksdag to other countries as election observers. The presence of international observers helps to ensure that election procedures are correct, which in turn promotes democratic development.
The monitoring missions are often carried out in new democracies in the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe, in Central Asia, as well as in the USA. The elections that are observed are parliamentary elections, and, in certain cases, presidential elections.
As an observer, the member visits polling stations on election day and monitors compliance with election laws. It must be possible to rely on election results, and having election observers present increases the chances of achieving democratic electoral processes.
The OSCE sends election observers
It is the country holding an election that invites foreign election observers to monitor proceedings. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is one organisation that sends election monitors. The organisation has a parliamentary assembly consisting of parliamentarians from the member countries. The assembly normally invites the Riksdag delegation to the OSCE to send election observers to take part in missions.
The Riksdag delegation to the OSCE is very active, and the number of members of the Riksdag that participate in observer missions varies depending on a quota assigned in advance. If the delegation cannot fill the assigned number of places, the Speaker can decide to offer places to other members of the Riksdag.The observation missions sometimes take place in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly or the European Parliament.
Important that elections are observed by politicians
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly underlines that it is important that elections are monitored by politicians. This is because they have participated in elections themselves in their native countries and are well acquainted with election campaigns and procedures.
The participation by members of the Riksdag in observer missions is in line with the Riksdag's strategy for international contacts, which clearly emphasises democracy and human rights.
Two decades of election observation
The OSCE started to send out election observers in the early 1990s after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The first members of the Riksdag were sent out in 1993. They monitored the parliamentary election in Russia, an election where it was possible to choose between several parties for the first time. Between 1993 and 2010, the OSCE sent 3,377 parliamentarians to different countries on observer missions.
How the assignment is conducted
The members of the Riksdag prepare thoroughly for an election observation assignment. They meet officials here in Sweden and in the country in question in order to obtain information about the situation and the forthcoming election. The actual election day is often long, with visits to several polling stations. When it is over, the international observers prepare a joint statement about their observations.
There is a great deal to think about prior to an assignment as an election observer. The International Department of the Riksdag helps the members who take part in missions with their practical preparations. An important precondition is that the observers are well informed of the political situation in the country holding the election. They therefore meet ambassadors and desk officers at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs before setting off on their journey.
Meet election candidates and representatives
The assignment normally takes four days. The election observers devote the first two days in the country to briefings with election candidates and to meetings with representatives of the electoral commission.
Before election day, the observers are divided into teams consisting of two observers, interpreters and chauffeurs. The teams are given a thorough briefing and also meet officials from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), who have travelled there in advance to analyse the situation in the country. ODIHR is responsible for the practical preparations for the election observation mission.
The election observers also receive questionnaires, lists of polling stations and maps in order to plan their assignment.
On election day, the observers must arrive before the first polling station opens. Each team observes about ten polling stations, and is present at a polling station when it closes. The election observers help to count the votes, which can be a lengthy process.
At the end of the day, the observers submit their observation forms. The polling stations are often situated remotely, and the working day can be very long.
Ends with a press conference
On the morning of the final day, all teams report orally to the leader of the international delegation of observers. Later during the day, the leaders of the delegations of the various organisations hold a press conference. They then deliver a joint statement on the extent to which the election has met the requirements of being free and fair.