The Poetic Justice Of Good Elections

Michael Hedges August 24, 2020 - Follow on Twitter

Free and fair elections are coveted by those invested in democratic principles. For others, not so much. News media plays an enormous role, usually beneficial but not always. New media - social and such - is challenging the old order. Fortunately, a select group of independent organizations take on job of pointing out the successes and shortcomings.

Several organizations provide on-the-spot election monitoring. The best known, arguably, is the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) through its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). OSCE was founded in 1975 and currently based in Vienna, Austria. ODIHR was originally the Office for Free Elections, formed in 1991, currently based in Warsaw, Poland. OSCE is made up of 57 participating States in Europe, Central Asia and North America plus partner States in Asia and the Mediterranean region.

ODIHR election monitoring follows established protocols. Small teams arrive several weeks ahead of voting with larger groups joining for the main event. Prior to elections the observation mission team reviews applicable election law, processes in place, campaign details and media access all with an eye toward fundamental rights. Observers then monitor voting, tabulation and results announcements. A preliminary report is typically issued within a day or two of the voting. Details are shared with electoral commissions and the general public.

ODIHR does not simply parachute into a country unannounced. Following diplomatic protocols, there must be an invitation from an electoral commission or relevant official body. The Belarusian Foreign Affairs Ministry never got back about that invitation “in a timely manner” and ODIHR, very officially, gave up, said a statement (July 15). Presidential elections in Belarus were held August 9th, President Alexander Lukashenko awarding himself 80% of the total. ODIHR “has not recognised any elections in Belarus as free and fair since 1995, noted the BBC (July 14).

This year OSCE/ODIHR has conducted needs assessment or observed parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan (February 9), Slovakia (February 29), Tajikistan (March 1), Serbia (June 21), Mongolia (June 24) and North Macedonia (July 15) as well as the same for presidential elections in Iceland (June 27) and both rounds in Poland (June 28, July 12). The monitors did not recommend deployment in Iceland due to “full confidence in the integrity of the electoral process and the ability of the election administration to professional conduct transparent elections” despite “isolated concerns… on media coverage.”

Following the second round of the Polish presidential election, the ODIHR monitoring mission’s report was more nuanced. “The political polarization as well as the lack of impartiality in the public media coverage detracted from a well-run election,” said ODIHR mission lead Thomas Boserup, in a statement (July 13). “Following a campaign that was lacking in dialogue, it is especially important to emphasize that democracies are based on respect for diversity and the rights of all, not just the majority.”

“Negative campaigning and mutual vilification abounded, while reports of threats against politicians and journalists were of serious concern,” said the ODIHR report. “As in the first round, the incumbent’s campaign and coverage by the (State) broadcaster were marked by homophobic, xenophobic and anti-Semitic rhetoric.” In findings and conclusions after the first round, ODIHR assessed state broadcaster TVP “acted as a campaign vehicle for the incumbent (Andrzej Duda) and frequently portrayed his main challenger (Rafal Trzaskowski) as a threat to Polish values and national interests.”

Coming up for ODIHR monitors in the remaining weeks of this year are parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania and general elections in United States. In its needs assessment mission report on the US elections the organization noted the “challenges” of in-person voting and “alternative voting methods most notably postal voting.” For several reasons - notably concerns over “attempts by President (Donald) Trump to limit the broad legal protections to freedom of expression enjoyed by social media companies” and the safety of media workers - the ODIHR mission “noted that the conduct of these elections will be the most challenging in recent decades.” ODIHR has recommended 100 long-term and 400 short-term observers for the November 3rd US elections.

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• Hot Topics - Media and Election Campaigns