OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission here

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened Monday an election observation mission to monitor the 26 June presidential election in Mongolia. The ODIHR was invited by the government of Mongolia in line with the country's commitments as an OSCE participating State. This is the first ODIHR election observation mission deployed to Mongolia, which became an OSCE participating State at the end of 2012. The mission, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover and consisting of 12 international experts, are based in Ulaanbaatar, later 26 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country. The experts and observers are drawn from 24 countries. The mission will assess the presidential election for compliance with the OSCE commitments, other international standards for democratic elections, and with the national legislation. Observers will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legislative framework, and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign. The mission will meet with representatives of relevant authorities and political parties, with candidates, representatives of civil society, the media and the international community. On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the ballots counting and a tabulating of results at all levels. A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.