PEA’s election observation programs

International election observation programs organized by the PEA in 2020

 

Given the recent developments concerning the global health crisis and the rather restrictive measures regarding the international travel, the Permanent Electoral Authority was not able to invite representatives of its counterpart institutions to observe the 2020 elections. However, since the aim of the AEP is to remain constantly engaged in the exchange of good practices at international level, the institution addressed invitations to the diplomatic network and partner structures based in Romania to take part in the two election observation programs which were organized during 2020.

The International Election Observation Program for the Local elections took place on the 27th of September 2020. The participants to the program were ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Tunisia, Canada, the Republic of Turkey, Hungary, Georgia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Indonesia, as well as a representative of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF). Therefore, the Permanent Electoral Authority has issued accreditations for the participants in order to grant them the status of international observers.

The International Election Observation Program for the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate took place exclusively on election day, on the 6th of December 2020.

The participants were diplomatic representatives of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Tunisia, Canada, the Republic of Turkey, Georgia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of India and two representatives from the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF). The Permanent Electoral Authority was honoured by the active participation in the observation program of H.E. Ms. Raja Jhinaoui BEN ALI, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Rahul SHRIVASTAVA, Ambassador of the Republic of India, H.E. Ms. Laurence AUER, Ambassador of the French Republic, and Mr. Pierre de MONTE, Liaison Magistrate of the French Republic to Romania. As in the case of the international program organized on the occasion of the Local elections, the PEA issued accreditations for the participants in order to grant them the status of international observers.

The international election observers of the 2020 programs, together with the representatives of the Permanent Electoral Authority, have visited several polling stations within four voting premises in different districts of Bucharest, at various times of the day. They have also participated in briefings and Q&A sessions at the headquarters of the Central Electoral Bureau, where they were welcomed by the officials of the Permanent Electoral Authority.

The institution took all necessary measures in order to comply with the public health rules with the aim to prevent the risk of infection of the participants and of the people with whom they have interacted. The participants wore masks, constantly disinfected their hands and kept the social distance from the other voters and participants. Moreover, the maximum number of people who could be present in the polling station at the same time has never been exceeded.

Both the election observation programs organized by the PEA in 2020 represented excellent opportunities for the exchange of good practices in electoral matters but also chances to demonstrate Romania’s firm response to the challenges imposed by the health crisis in the electoral field.

 

International election observation programs organized by the PEA in 2019

 

Between the 9th and the 10th of November 2019, the PEA organized the International Presidential Election Observation Program dedicated to its counterpart institutions and international organizations with responsibilities in the electoral field. A number of 26 experts and electoral officials took part in the event. The participants came from the following electoral management bodies: the Election Administration of Georgia, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Moldova, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the Central Commission on Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic, the National Election Office of Hungary, the Election Commission of Thailand, the State Electoral Commission of the Republic of Croatia, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania, the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey, the Independent Election Commission of Jordan and the US International Centre for Electoral Support. Through the accreditations issued by the Permanent Electoral Authority, the participants to the event have acquired the status of international observers.

The agenda of the event included two working days. On the 9th of November a meeting with the participants was held at the PEA headquarters. The representatives of the PEA have discussed aspects related to the legislation governing the 2019 presidential elections, the improvements which were made to the regulatory framework, the conduct of the information campaign for voters, the System for monitoring the turnout and preventing illegal voting (SIMPV), the Electoral Register and the activity of the Central Electoral Bureau. The agenda of the program included on the 10th of November 2019 a tour of the polling stations in Bucharest, as well as a visit to the Central Electoral Bureau.