WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Independent citizen observation can help identify irregularities, deter misconduct and hold electoral authorities and other actors accountable throughout the electoral process. But oversight of the electoral process is not confined to election day. It spans many areas: the registration of voters and candidates, campaign finance, media coverage, online campaigning, action against disinformation, ensuring accessibility, and more.
It also gives civil society a meaningful opportunity to take part in democratic processes.
A multi-step process that begins long before election day
WHAT DOES OBSERVATION COVER?
The six stages of election observation
01
Voter and candidate registration
Who appears on the register and who can run for office? The process starts here, well before election day.
02
Campaign finance
Where does campaign money come from, what is it spent on, and how? This is the foundation of transparency.
03
Media coverage
Does every candidate and party receive balanced and fair access to the public sphere?
04
Online campaigning
What do electoral actors post and whom do they target? Campaigning now largely takes place online.
05
Countering disinformation
Is false information about the election spreading, and how are responsible actors responding?
06
Accessibility
Can everyone cast their ballot, irrespective of language, place of residence, or disability?
WHY DOES AN INDEPENDENT PRESENCE MATTER?
It’s not just a technical issue
Independent citizen observation does more than promote election integrity: it also strengthens social participation and responsibility. When citizens and civic organisations monitor elections, they advance equality, inclusion and accountability while reducing opportunities for abuse and manipulation.
Equality
The same rules apply to every voter and candidate, who are entitled to the same rights.
Inclusion
Local communities can participate directly in monitoring the process.
Accountability
A documented presence makes it possible to establish what happened and when.
Fewer abuses
The presence of observers alone reduces opportunities for manipulation.
INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK
Recommended, but rarely regulated
EU · OSCE · CSCE
The European Commission recommends that Member States create favourable conditions for independent election observation, including citizen observation. Nevertheless, only a few Member States currently have a legal framework and accreditation system for citizen observers.
In addition, based on the CSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document, the OSCE in its election reports has repeatedly called on the Hungarian state to establish an explicit legal framework for domestic citizen election observation.
Free Vote Foundation is committed to establishing and organising citizen election observation in Hungary.
Source: European Commission Recommendation 2023/2829 OSCE/ODIHR — Copenhagen Document, 1990