ODIHR electoral recommendations database

A competitive political environment which results in viable political alternatives is critical to a democratic process. The authorities should demonstrate full respect for fundamental freedoms and ensure that potential candidates, and electoral contestants are provided with conditions that enable them to promote political platforms and debate public affairs freely and are not subjected to pressure or intimidation. Instances and allegations of pressure or intimidation should be promptly investigated by the relevant authorities and the perpetrators held accountable for their acts.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Background and Political Context

In order to ensure compliance with international human rights obligations, the revision and subsequent implementation of the legal framework should always be done in such a way as to provide for the effective exercise of fundamental freedoms in practice, and safeguard against arbitrariness. The amendments should be made well in advance of the next elections through a consultative process that ensures inclusive and effective public participation.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

The legislative requirements and administrative procedures for the registration of political parties should be comprehensively revised in order to respect and encourage pluralism and freedom of association. Registration of political parties should be carried out strictly on the basis of objective and transparent criteria and be subject to judicial remedy.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Party and Candidate Registration

The Law on Media should be overhauled in order to bring it in line with international standards on freedom of expression. In particular, excessive restrictions on the establishment, registration and funding of media outlets, including by foreign nationals and entities, as well as the state-managed system of registration and licensing of journalists should be reviewed.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

To strengthen impartiality and effective independence of election administration to ensure broad public confidence in their work, the appointment process for election commission members at all levels should be revised to prevent dominance by any single political party. Commissions should work as collegial bodies taking decisions in a manner that supports the perception of impartiality and political neutrality.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

The legal and administrative barriers to observation should be limited to those absolutely necessary to ensure the integrity of observation. The accreditation process should not allow for arbitrary decisions and the implementation should be devoid of discrimination of critical independent organizations.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Citizen and International Observers

Effective measures should be taken to increase the transparency and integrity of the counting and tabulation process and instil public confidence in the accuracy of the results. Members of Precinct and Constituency Election Commissions should follow procedures in a clear and consistent manner, on time, uninterrupted and in full view of observers.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Day

Women’s full and equal participation in public and political life, including at the senior and decision-making levels, should be facilitated by means of comprehensive legal, institutional, and educational initiatives.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Background and Political Context

Measures to ensure equal participation of women, including in decision-making roles, should be taken through the introduction of legal requirements and efforts to identify and nominate women at all levels of election administration.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

To increase transparency and accountability, election commissions should conduct all substantive work in an open manner, and sessions of lower-level commissions should be announced well in advance to facilitate stakeholders’ attendance. Agendas and minutes of sessions should be published in a timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

The authorities, in consultation with disabled persons organizations, should undertake further efforts to ensure the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process, publish information in accessible formats, secure independent access to polling stations during election day and ensure that the secrecy of disable voters is respected.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

The legal framework should be harmonized with international standards by removing any restrictions on electoral rights based on intellectual or psychosocial disability.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To guarantee active suffrage rights of all voters and to increase public trust in the voter register, election management bodies should improve the accuracy and the inclusiveness of the voter register in a transparent manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

In order to strengthen the integrity of the voter registration and of the polling process, additions to the voter list on election day should be subject to judicial procedure, with effective safeguards against multiple voting.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Restrictions on candidacy based on residency, dual citizenship and education should be reviewed in line with applicable standards.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Party and Candidate Registration

To further promote pluralism in the electoral process and freedom of association, consideration should be given to removing the restriction to sign in support of only one candidate.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Party and Candidate Registration

The legal framework should be amended to provide sufficient time to collect signatures for candidate registration and to ensure a clear, objective and transparent signature verification process.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Party and Candidate Registration

To comply fully with international standards, the legislation should be revised and implemented in a manner which ensures a meaningful exercise of the right to peaceful assemblies, including those of a political nature and during elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign

Authorities and political parties should refrain from coercing public-sector employees, students and others to participate in campaigning.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign

Political parties should be encouraged to facilitate women’s political advancement, increase visibility of women during electoral campaigns, and mainstream a gender perspective into party programmes. As temporary special measures, the authorities could consider introducing incentives for political parties to take such steps.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign

Detailed campaign finance reports clearly indicating the source and amounts of funds received should be available for public information and the audit of campaign finance reports should not be the subject of administrative discretion. The legislation should ensure that audits are conducted by an impartial and independent body and are subsequently published in a timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

In order to enhance the scope of relevant political information available to the public and to promote a plurality of views, the state television should be transformed into a genuine public service broadcaster. To ensure their independence, funding of the State TV AzTV and of the Public Television ITV should be multi-sourced, and their management should be appointed by an independent body.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

The legal framework for the media should be reviewed to guarantee and support freedom of expression in line with international standards. Criminal prosecution for libel and dissemination of information which is known to be false, as well as laws that provide special protection of the honour of public officials should be fully repealed in favour of civil remedies designed to restore the reputation harmed.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

In line with international standards, websites should only be blocked based on objective and transparent criteria clearly defined in law. Possible limitations should be content-specific, while general bans of entire websites should be avoided. Website owners and the general public should be informed when such blockings occur in order to ensure they have an effective opportunity to appeal. A register of blocked websites should be publicly available.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

In order to uphold the principle of media pluralism during an election period, voters should be provided with a wide range of views, editorial election-related programs should not be limited or restricted, and the state broadcaster should be allowed to cover the election campaign in its news.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

All communications with election commissions of a complaint nature should be considered on their merits and complainants should be given the opportunity to appeal the decisions. Additional efforts should be taken to ensure transparency in the adjudication of appeals by the courts and the timely publication of decisions. The application of admissibility rules and distribution of burden of proof should not be used to circumvent the provision of judicial remedy for alleged electoral violations.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

The right to provide and receive legal aid must be protected against arbitrary decisions, influence or bias. The legislation should include clear and objective criteria for the registration and deregistration of legal professionals as well as for the application of disciplinary sanctions.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

Measures should be taken to ensure unhindered access of citizen observers to the entire electoral process. Consideration should be given to removing restrictions on the possibility for citizen groups to attend commission meetings and observe the work of the election commissions before election day.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Citizen and International Observers

To achieve a competitive political environment, the authorities should demonstrate full respect for fundamental freedoms and ensure that contestants are able to promote political platforms and debate public affairs in an environment free from pressure or intimidation. Instances and allegations of pressure or intimidation should be promptly investigated by the relevant authorities and the perpetrators held accountable.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Background and Political Context

The electoral legal framework as well as legislation governing fundamental rights and freedoms should be reviewed to ensure compliance with international human rights obligations and standards for democratic elections. The legal reform should be preceded by an open and inclusive consultation process well in advance of the next elections. State bodies and the election administration should implement the laws in a manner that ensures the effective exercise of fundamental freedoms.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

To foster pluralism and ensure the exercise of freedom of association, the legislative and administrative requirements for the registration of political parties should be comprehensively revised. The authorities should discontinue practices of oversight that can be regarded as undue limitations on the freedom of association and intimidating to parties and their members.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

The Law on Media should be amended to align it with international standards on freedom of expression. In particular, excessive restrictions on the establishment, registration and funding of media outlets, including by foreign nationals and entities, as well as the state-managed system of registration and licensing of journalists should be repealed. Information on ownership and sources of funding of media outlets should be public.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

To strengthen impartiality and effective independence of election administration and to ensure broad public confidence in their work, the appointment process for election commission members at all levels should be revised to prevent dominance by any single political party. Commissions should work as collegial bodies taking decisions in a manner that supports the perception of impartiality and political neutrality.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

Consideration should be given to introducing temporary special measures to enhance the participation of women in public and political life, including gender quotas.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Background and Political Context

The authorities should ensure that political stakeholders are able to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed civil and political rights without unnecessary and disproportionate limitations and under equal conditions.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Environment

To ensure equality of the vote and in line with international standards and good practices, constituency delimitation should be conducted and reviewed periodically by an independent body, in an open and consultative manner and well in advance of the next elections. The CEC should ensure that the public is well-informed about the delineation of the constituencies through a comprehensive information campaign.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Electoral System

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Electoral System

To enhance transparency and accountability, the election administration should proactively publicize information on its website, including all CEC and lower-level commission decisions, and ensure effective access to such information. The election commissions should conduct all substantive work in an open manner and sessions should be announced in advance, with relevant documentation published in a timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

To safeguard the integrity of the vote, the authorities should consider more effective oversight of the adherence of election commissions to procedures, including by applying sanctions to those tolerating breaches of the secrecy of vote, engaging in or not preventing ballot box stuffing and for failure to enforce procedural safeguards, such as inking and securing the ballot boxes.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

The authorities, in consultation with relevant organizations, should undertake additional efforts to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process, including publishing information in accessible formats, securing independent access to polling stations and ensuring that secrecy of vote is respected.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

To ensure that ballots are counted and reported honestly, election commissions should receive adequate training, and important procedural safeguards should be strictly complied with during counting and tabulation in full view of observers.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

To enhance transparency over the election results, the CEC should consider publishing scanned PEC result protocols.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

In case of alleged irregularities pertaining to voting and counting, the law should prescribe clear grounds for recounts and repeat voting in polling stations in case of invalidation of results. Perpetrators of irregularities, including election commission members, should be held accountable. The timeline for the validation of election results should provide for the full exhaustion of any related appeals of election disputes.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

The legal framework should be harmonized with international standards by removing any restrictions on electoral rights based on intellectual or psychosocial disability.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To safeguard the integrity of voter registration and election day procedures, additions to the voter list on election day should be subject to a judicial procedure, and this procedure should be coupled with the introduction of effective safeguards against multiple voting.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To enhance the accuracy of the voter register, the election administration should maintain and update the voter register in a transparent manner. Consideration could be given to conducting an audit of the voter register and other relevant databases, including those of residents and citizens, and publishing regular detailed disaggregated updates on verification of these registers.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Restrictions on candidacy rights of individuals with dual citizenship should be reviewed, in line with international standards.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Party and Candidate Registration

In line with international good practice, the meaningful possibility for corrections of omissions in nomination documents by contestants should be ensured by law and in practice. Consideration could be given to exploring measures to further facilitate candidate registration process and increase the integrity of the process, including electronic submission of candidacy nomination documents and voter support signatures and giving voters the opportunity to verify if their signatures are on lists of support signatures.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Party and Candidate Registration

To ensure inclusiveness, registration of prospective candidates should be carried out objectively, transparently and be subject to effective judicial control. Authorities should take necessary measures to ensure that candidate nomination and registration is conducted in an atmosphere free from intimidation and fear of retribution and in an environment where fundamental freedoms are fully respected.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Party and Candidate Registration

To provide for freedom of expression in the campaign, the law should allow for printing and distribution of campaign materials without pre-approval of the election commissions.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Electoral Campaign

The legal framework should include effective safeguards against the misuse of office by state and local officials, prohibit pressure on public employees, and provide for effective enforcement and proportionate sanctions for violations. Authorities should take necessary measures to ensure that campaigning is conducted in an atmosphere free from intimidation and fear of retribution and in an environment where fundamental freedoms are fully respected.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Political parties should make efforts to facilitate women’s equal political advancement, increase visibility of women during electoral campaigns, and mainstream a gender perspective into party programmes, and provide further support to women’s participation in political life and party leadership.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

To enhance transparency and ensure access to information for voters, all campaign finance reports and income and asset declarations should be published on the website of the relevant election administration bodies in a timely manner. Equal campaign finance conditions, including with respect to opening of bank accounts and submission of reports, should apply to all contestants.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To ensure the effectiveness of campaign finance oversight, the law should define oversight mechanisms, including auditing of finance reports and publication of the audit results in a timely manner, and guarantee that the oversight body is fully mandated and resourced to monitor campaign spending and thoroughly review campaign finance reports. The law should introduce a graduated system of proportionate, effective and dissuasive sanctions for non-compliance.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To guarantee freedom of expression, defamation and libel should be decriminalized and should be subject to civil proceedings designed to restore the reputation harmed. Laws that provide special protection of the honour of public officials should be fully repealed, in line with international standards. The sanctions for harm to reputation should be proportional to the offence and the cases should be addressed in a timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

In line with international standards, websites should only be blocked based on objective and reasonable criteria clearly defined in law and in a transparent procedure, to safeguard against arbitrary application. Possible limitations should be content-specific and should not serve as a tool to control content, while general bans of entire websites should be avoided. Restricting access to websites should be ordered by a court, court hearings and decisions on blockage should be public, while website owners and the public should be duly informed to ensure they have an effective opportunity to appeal. A register of blocked websites should be publicly available.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

To enable voters to obtain sufficient information about the contestants, in line with international standards, airtime on the public broadcaster should be granted on a fair and non-discriminatory basis, and the time allocated to parties and candidates shall be sufficient for them to communicate their messages.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

To contribute to the ability of voters to make an informed choice, the state has an obligation to ensure that the media inform the public about the political parties, candidates, campaign issues and voting processes. In particular, the definition of campaign in media should be reviewed to allow media to provide for free editorial coverage of the campaign, including in forms of news coverage, interviews, or panel discussions.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

To ensure due process in the resolution of election disputes, additional measures should be taken. Complainants should be able to participate when evidence is being reviewed, access expert findings, and propose their own evidence. Courts must address all arguments, including those provided by the CEC and experts, procedural omissions and motions for new evidence. The CEC and court decisions should be fully reasoned and indicate available remedies.

Recommendation # in final report: 30

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

To enhance transparency of the election dispute resolution, the election administration could consider publishing its complaints’ register on its website. Court decisions should be published in a timely manner and be easily accessible.

Recommendation # in final report: 31

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

To enhance the transparency of the electoral process, measures should be taken to facilitate registration of citizen observer groups and to provide them with unhindered access to all aspects and stages of the electoral process, including the work of election commissions, candidate registration, the campaign and election dispute resolution.

Recommendation # in final report: 32

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Observation

In line with international standards, criminal provisions for defamation and insult should be repealed in favour of civil sanctions strictly proportionate to the harm caused.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

The legal framework for media should be amended to ensure full protection of the principle of freedom of speech and the press and the right of access to information, as enshrined in the Constitution. Journalists should be able to carry out their work freely, and not be subject to pressure or intimidation.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

In cases of irregularities during the count, a thorough and impartial investigation of election-day materials should be conducted, including PEC voting results protocols, signed voter lists, ballots and web camera footage, where available. Perpetrators, including election commission members who participate or tolerate such practices, should be prosecuted.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Post-Election Developments

Media outlets should be free to establish their own editorial policies, without interference by the authorities.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

To increase transparency and contribute to building trust in the accuracy of the voter registration process, relevant institutions should consider publishing regular detailed disaggregated updates on verification of population and voter registers

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Relevant authorities should ensure effective oversight of contestants’ compliance with campaign finance legislation and that proportionate and dissuasive sanctions be applied for non-compliance.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Measures should be taken to ensure unhindered access of observers to the entire electoral process, including a clear view of all procedures during voting, counting and tabulation.

Recommendation # in final report: 31

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Observation

The election administration should undertake measures to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, in particular by ensuring secrecy of the vote, preventing ballot box stuffing and implementing safeguard procedures, such as inking and securing the ballot boxes.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Day

The Election Code should be amended to revise the composition of election commissions at all levels, with the aim of enhancing the impartiality of election commissions and public confidence in their work.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

Political parties and candidates should refrain from registering their activists as citizen observers, while citizen observer groups should respect the principle of non-partisan election observation.

Recommendation # in final report: 30

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Observation

The denial of voting rights of people based on the intellectual or psychosocial disability should be removed.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Additional safeguards for strengthening the integrity of the voter registration could be provided, such as judicial control of or alternatives to election-day registration by precinct election commissions.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To further increase transparency of the electoral process, including with regard to registration of voters, candidates and observers, the CEC could publish relevant aggregated and disaggregated electoral data on its website in a timely manner. The CEC, in consultation with organisations representing persons with disabilities, should also publish the information in formats accessible to different categories of persons with disabilities.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

Electoral and political contestants should be able reach out to voters and organize political rallies at any time and under equal conditions. To this extent, the Law on Freedom of Assembly should be amended in line with the constitutionally guaranteed notification mechanism for holding peaceful assemblies. In addition, the restrictive approach of the CEC regarding the number and accessibility of venues for the conduct of the campaign should be reviewed.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Environment

The CEC should redraw the boundaries of electoral constituencies in a timely manner and in line with the law and international commitments and standards in order to respect the principle of equal suffrage. To enhance confidence and transparency in the revision process, it should be open to public scrutiny.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

The CEC and ConECs should apply reasonable criteria for denial of candidate registration. In case of omissions or other technical mistakes in registration documents, commissions should provide the candidates with an effective opportunity to correct mistakes.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Nomination and Registration

Consideration could be given to publishing preliminary and final financial reports of all candidates on the CEC website in order to enhance the public’s right of access to information of public interest. In order to increase transparency and ensure informed choice of voters, consideration could be given to also requiring publication of income and asset declarations of all registered candidates prior to election day.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Further steps should be taken to ensure that military personnel as a rule vote in regular polling stations, with exceptions strictly limited.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

Information on ownership and sources of funding of media outlets should be publicly disclosed.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

The Election Code should provide for impartial election campaign coverage by the media, while preserving the balance between the principle of equitable opportunities among contestants, pluralism of views and journalistic freedom. The law should be amended to ensure the right of the media to report on the campaign without undue limitations and the right of voters to receive fair, impartial and balanced coverage, also outside the news broadcasts.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

Consideration could be given to amend the Election Code and broaden the eligibility criteria for receiving free airtime with a view to create a more level-playing field and ensure equitable access of political parties to public media.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

To increase transparency and accountability, election commissions should conduct all substantive work in an open manner and ensure effective access of observers to their decision-making process. The Election Code should be amended to require all decisions and the minutes of sessions of the CEC and ConECs be published online in a timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

The legal framework should set precise and exhaustive grounds for blocking the websites in order to clearly distinguish prohibited materials from political and other information of public interest and provide guarantees against its arbitrary application. The power to restrict access to websites should rest exclusively with the judiciary. Court hearings and decisions on blockage should be public, and a registry of any blocked websites should be publicly available.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

Measures and mechanisms to increase the number of women as chairpersons and members of election commissions should be considered.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

The independence of public ITV should be further strengthened, including by ensuring impartial editorial practices, especially in news programmes. The introduction of a broadcast fee, as prescribed by the Law on Public Broadcaster, should be implemented.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

Authorities should fully respect the right to peaceful assembly and act with the presumption in favour of holding such assemblies. Law enforcement agencies should implement a human rights-based approach to policing assemblies, and all measures applied should be legal and proportionate.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Post-Election Developments

The authorities should ensure the election campaign is conducted in an atmosphere free from intimidation and fear of retribution. The authorities and political parties should refrain from coercing candidates, public-sector employees, students and others to participate in campaigning.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Environment

The timeframe for resolving candidate registration disputes should be reviewed to ensure timely remedy and equal opportunities to campaign. Decisions on all election-related complaints should be reasoned and indicate the further remedy available. All parties involved should have an effective opportunity to be present during hearings.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

Political parties should consider internal measures to promote equal participation of women and men in senior positions within party structures and integrate gender issues into their platforms. The authorities should consider possible legislative measures, which would facilitate a more balanced participation of women and men in political and public life, especially at the senior and decision-making levels.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Post-Election Developments

The electoral legal framework should be revised sufficiently in advance of the next elections and through a genuine participatory and consultative process, to bring it in line with international obligations and standards for democratic elections, guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms, eliminate gaps and address previous ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations as well as rulings of the ECtHR.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

The office of the prosecutor should consistently and independently apply the law and fulfil its mandate to expeditiously investigate and prosecute election related crimes, to protect citizens from electoral fraud and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The media could be required through legal and self-regulatory mechanisms to report on the incumbent and the authorities in a balanced, informative, and factual manner. Consideration could also be given to prohibit the broadcasting of paid campaign materials within news and current affairs programmes.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

The CEC should consider conducting the process of verification of support signatures under its full responsibility and independently from any government institutions.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

To improve the transparency of the voter registration process, detailed preliminary and final information on the voter list verification and updating process should be published.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

A clear and detailed set of criteria for checking support signatures and for recording the results of such checks should be developed, so that the process is exact, accountable, and not subject to interpretation. Decisions to accept and reject candidates should be well-grounded and reasoned.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Restrictions on the voting rights of persons with mental disabilities should be removed.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The legislation could be amended to require mandatory audit of campaign finance reports and publication of the audit result in a timely manner. Appropriate and proportional sanctions for non-compliance with financial reporting provisions should also be incorporated in the legal framework.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To ensure inclusiveness while safeguarding the integrity of the voter register, the authorities could consider alternative methods that do not depend on election-day registration.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Measures and mechanisms to increase the number of women as chairpersons and members of election commissions should be considered.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

To increase transparency and accountability, election commissions should conduct all substantive work under their responsibility during formal sessions. The law should be amended to require that the minutes of such sessions and all decisions of ConECs are published online.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

To ensure transparency of official election information, the CEC should ensure that all detailed election information posted on its website remains available for public scrutiny.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

To secure an electoral environment free of electoral malfeasance, a thorough and independent investigation of election-day material could be conducted. This could include a review of web camera footage where available, signed voter lists and valid and invalid ballots.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Day

The procedures and timelines in case of a second round, procedures and grounds for recounts of ballots, and procedures and timelines for invalidation of election results should be detailed in relevant normative legal acts.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

In line with international standards, the educational and residential requirements for candidacy should be lifted.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

The law should foresee a timeframe for remedying deficiencies related to supporting signatures if such are found by the CEC. The CEC should ensure that prospective candidates are informed in a timely manner about the signature verification process and its timeframe.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

The Election Code should be amended to allow voters to sign in support of multiple candidates.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Consideration could be given to reintroducing provisions for public campaign funding, in order to level the playing field.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

The electoral legal framework should be revised sufficiently in advance of the next elections, through a genuine participatory and consultative process, to bring it in line with international standards and obligations, guarantee constitutionally protected rights and freedoms, eliminate gaps and ambiguities, and address previous ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

Comprehensive instructions regulating all procedural and operational aspects of the process of voter list verification and updating should be developed. The authorities could also consider matching voter data with the residence and ID card data held by the government.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To increase transparency, the CEC could consider publishing a detailed overview of the numbers of observers and their sending organizations, including political parties.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Citizen and International Observers

The CEC should ensure that voting procedures, including inking procedures and securing the ballot boxes, are strictly, correctly and uniformly implemented by election commissions.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Day

Authorities should ensure that election campaigning is conducted in an atmosphere free from intimidation and fear of retribution. The authorities and political parties should refrain from coercing public-sector employees, campaign activists and others to attend campaign events.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Campaign

Citizen observer groups should be able to register without undue restrictions and in full freedom. The process for registering these non-governmental organizations should facilitate the ability of citizens to form such groups and should not be used to obstruct observation efforts.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Citizen and International Observers

Election commissions should ensure that cameras installed in polling stations are placed in a way that minimizes any perception that the secrecy of the vote is jeopardized.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

Measures should be taken to ensure unhindered access of citizen and international observers to the entire electoral process, including clear view of all procedures within polling station and tabulation premises during voting, counting, and tabulation.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Day

The Election Code should be amended to revise the composition of election commissions at all levels, with the aim of enhancing the impartiality of election commissions and public confidence in their work.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

Defamation and libel should be decriminalized and dealt with through proportionate civil sanctions, with a priority given to restoring the harmed reputation, rather than imposing penalties. No one, including the president, should be granted extra protection against defamation.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

The power to restrict access to websites should lie with the judiciary. The process in front of the courts should be public, and decisions and the full list of blocked websites should be publicly available.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

Contradictions between the Election Code and the Law on Freedom of Assembly on whether notification or application is required for holding a public gathering should be eliminated. Candidates should only be required to notify the executive authorities of their intent to hold a gathering, rather than having to apply for authorization.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Campaign

To provide voters a wide range of views, editorial election-related programs should not be limited, and the state broadcaster should be allowed to cover election campaign in its news.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media