ODIHR electoral recommendations database

The election-related legislation should be comprehensively reviewed in order to eliminate inconsistencies, ambiguous provisions, and gaps, including those resulting from Constitutional Court rulings, to bring them in line with OSCE commitments, international obligations and good practice. Any such legislative reform should be public, inclusive, and carried out sufficiently in advance of the next elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

All relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies, should make concerted efforts to comprehensively address allegations of electoral violations such as vote-buying, pressure on voters, and the misuse of administrative resources. Such allegations should be effectively investigated in a thorough, timely, and transparent manner, in line with applicable procedures. Voters should be systematically provided with clear information about mechanisms for reporting violations.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign

The relevant authorities should undertake further efforts to enhance women’s political participation. Political parties should identify and address barriers to women’s active engagement, including by reviewing and adjusting internal practices that impede women’s representation and effective participation within party structures.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Background and Political Context

In line with the principle of equality of opportunity, campaign rules should be revised to provide for more equitable campaign conditions for all contestants, including with regard to the allocation of spaces for posters and billboards, as well as the allocation of funds and airtime for paid political advertising in the media.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign

As previously recommended, the State Election Commission should be guaranteed a sustainable, adequate and timely budget to ensure that it is able to fulfil its mandate in line with its strategic planning, including the efficiency of its electoral operations. Budget allocations should ensure predictable long-term funding, including for personnel and for maintaining of physical and ICT infrastructure.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

All restrictions on the electoral rights of persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities should be repealed, in line with international obligations.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

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 enhance transparency, consideration should be given to legally requiring comprehensive disclosure of all types of campaign income and expenditures by contestants, several days prior to election day. Campaign finance reports should include a breakdown of expenditures by constituency, should be submitted electronically in an easily searchable format, and made public immediately upon submission.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

The election administration should ensure that all complaints are examined on their merits, and that reasoned and substantiated decisions are adopted and published without undue delay. Electronic submission should be allowed for all types of complaints.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Priority

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

To increase the transparency of the electoral process and the accountability of all participants in the campaign, the mechanism whereby state institutions directly reimburse media outlets for the costs of campaign advertising placed by contestants could be reconsidered, with a view to increasing contestants’ involvement in this process.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

Legal provisions prescribing accessibility standards that ensure equal participation of persons with disabilities in all stages of the electoral process and establish clear enforcement and monitoring mechanisms should be adopted, in consultation with disability organizations.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Secondary thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Days

As previously recommended, to enhance stability of lower-level electoral bodies, consideration should be given to vesting public authorities with explicit and mandatory responsibilities to update and revise the database of civil and public servants and to broadening the eligibility criteria for selection.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

Voter education should be strengthened through the use of comprehensive and accessible formats, to ensure that all voters, including those with disabilities, can fully understand and exercise their rights.

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 evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

Training should be mandatory for all electoral staff, including party representatives and their substitutes, and amongst other issues should include components on disability rights and accessibility and cover interaction with voters with disabilities, voter assistance, and inclusive voting practices.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

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 evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

To increase the transparency of the lower-level election administration, the State Election Commission should enable Municipal Election Commissions to publish key information about their activities and decisions through the State Election Commission online resources.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

To enhance the accuracy of the voter register, the State Election Commission’s information technology systems should be made compatible with other institutional databases for automated data exchange. The authorities could consider resuming address system reform.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To improve conditions for the free expression of the voters’ will, consideration could be given to introducing the requirement that voters sign separately for each ballot they receive.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To streamline the voter registration process and improve its inclusiveness, consideration could be given to extending the responsibility of State Election Commission regional offices for modification of voter lists beyond the public inspection period in line with clear safeguards and procedures.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The legal framework should be amended to allow independent candidacies for municipal councils. The number of nominated candidates on the lists should be decided exclusively by the respective electoral contestants.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

To streamline the candidate registration process, consideration could be given to requiring nominating entities, rather than the election administration, to obtain and submit court certificates about the criminal records of prospective candidates, along with other required nomination documentation.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

The legal framework for campaigning should be further strengthened to include clear rules for the participation of public officials, including on social networks.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

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 Environment

Consideration could be given to develop steps to regulate campaign activities and political advertising on social network portals, and their financing. Responsible oversight institutions should be mandated to monitor contestants and other stakeholders in the campaign. In addition, these institutions should be provided with adequate resources and capacities and equipped with effective, dissuasive, and proportionate sanctioning mechanisms for violations.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Environment

The legal framework for campaign finance should be revised to address existing gaps, including those concerning the amount of bank loans and the possibility of donating after election day, as well as third-party financing and campaign finance related to campaigning in social networks.

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: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To enhance the accountability of the electoral process and effectiveness of campaign finance oversight, the legislation should specify which institution should initiate proceedings in cases of infringements. The State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and the State Audit Office should be adequately resourced and possess the necessary technical expertise. These institutions should conduct effective scrutiny of campaign finance and give proper and timely consideration to all reports and complaints concerning alleged irregularities.

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 evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Provisions regulating the public broadcaster’s newscasts during the campaign period should be revised to better safeguard editorial independence while ensuring equitable access and non-discriminatory coverage in news programming for smaller parties and independent candidates.

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

For greater inclusivity, accessibility of news and political content should be improved. Consideration could be given to a larger sign-language interpreter window and audio description.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

The legal requirement for daily reporting by the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services to the election administration could be replaced by ad hoc reporting that effectively supports the identification and addressing of election-related concerns.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

Consideration should be given to extending the deadlines for the submission and adjudication of electoral complaints and appeals to ensure adequate time for their filing, examination, and resolution, in line with international good practice. The legal standing to file complaints should be broadened to include candidates, voters, and citizen observers.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

Efforts focusing on the integrity of election-day procedures should be enhanced, with an emphasis on respect for counting procedures and the correct completion of result protocols. Consideration could be given to the introduction and consistent application of disciplinary sanctions for Election Board members who derive from prescribed counting procedures.

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 evaluated

Final report heading: Election Day

As previously recommended, the rules on marking the ballots and determining their validity should be amended in such a manner that ballots are considered valid as long as the will of the voter can be clearly established. Consideration could also be given to allowing for the replacement of accidentally spoiled ballots.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

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 Day

Authorities should consider developing safeguards to ensure sufficient separation between the state and party as required by paragraph 5.4 of the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document. Existing legislative safeguards, such as Article 9 of the Electoral Code, should be interpreted in a way to prevent the inherent conflict of interest between executive government positions requiring independence and those of candidates pursuing political advantage. Such provisions could also be expanded to include enforcement mechanisms.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

Consideration should be given to addressing all gaps and ambiguities in the Electoral Code that have been identified through the election process, including those specifically mentioned in these recommendations. To this end, an inclusive consultative process should be established well in advance of the next elections.

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

Allegations of intimidation of voters should be swiftly, thoroughly, and effectively investigated by the authorities and those found responsible prosecuted. Citizens should be encouraged to report allegations supported by verifiable evidence.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign

The authorities should review the current system of allocation of mandates in out-of-country electoral districts to ensure that the number of votes needed to elect MPs does not significantly diminish the equality of the vote, as guaranteed by the Constitution and Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Legal Framework

Steps should be taken to resolve conflicts of interest with regard to the control of private broadcasters by those engaged in politics. This practice is contrary to the law and undermines balanced political coverage during an election campaign.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

A thorough audit and revision of the voter lists is long overdue. This should be done following the census in October 2011. It should focus on entries of deceased people and citizens residing abroad.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Shorter deadlines should be established for courts to rule on complaints brought against broadcasters by the Broadcasting Council during the campaign and pre-campaign period. This would ensure that the Broadcasting Council can enforce the regulations in a timely fashion and also allow broadcasters the opportunity for a prompt and effective remedy if their rights have been infringed.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

For appointments to the Broadcasting Council, priority should be given to the professionalism and impartiality of the prospective members, rather than political affiliation. This is particularly salient after amendments to the Law on the Broadcasting Activity, passed on 18 July, increased the number of members of the body from 9 to 15.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

The discrepancy in the nature of thresholds for campaign donations between individuals and legal entities should be revised. The current provisions are discriminatory and grant an unfair advantage to large entities.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

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

The effective administration of future elections would benefit greatly from the adoption of timely and comprehensive regulations to guide the election process and compensate for gaps or inconsistencies in the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

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 authorities should pay more attention to the practice of family voting, which is especially high in smaller ethnic communities. They should explore ways to eliminate it and seek consistent application of Article 112 of the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Participation of Women

The Electoral Code should clearly state that the voting rights of persons sentenced to imprisonment for more than six months are reinstated after their sentence is served.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

Detailed campaign coverage rules for the media could be incorporated in the Law on Broadcasting Activity and the Electoral Code, rather than being adopted for each election.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

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

Voter education campaigns, be they conducted by the authorities, civil society, or political parties, should focus on the secrecy of the ballot as the ultimate tool to counter intimidation or pressure to influence voters’ freedom of choice. Voters should be encouraged to demand that the secrecy of their ballot is respected.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Campaign

To continue to retain its substantive independence, the Broadcasting Council requires pre-determined and adequate financial support.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

Information outlining the procedures for out-of-country citizens to register should be publicized overseas a significant time in advance of the next elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

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

The right to vote of EB members abroad and those citizens who have been registered abroad for less than three months should be ensured.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

Independence of the public broadcaster could be strengthened by ensuring adequate financing.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

The SEC and MECs should enforce the requirement for EBs to publicly post copies of the results protocols, immediately following the completion of the count.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

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

To enhance transparency, the minutes of SEC sessions could be made public.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

Campaign regulations should be fully respected and enforced. Authorities could consider reviewing regulations that are regarded by many parties as too restrictive, such as those limiting the length of the campaign, defining campaign activities, and regulating the placement of posters.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

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: Election Campaign

Article 31(2)(35) of the Electoral Code, which mandates the SEC to inspect voting material upon a complaint only if at least two complaints are submitted for a respective polling station, should be removed as it undermines the right to effective legal remedies. There should be no threshold for the number of complaints to be filed before they are considered.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The Electoral Code or election regulations should state clearly that domestic and international observers are entitled to receive copies of the entire EB and MEC results protocols, rather than just the tabulation parts.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Observation

Deadlines should be introduced for auditing campaign finance reports before election day. Responsible institutions should strengthen their resources to enable an accurate and timely audit.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

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

Procedures for Complaints and Appeals should be simplified and widely publicized. The SEC should adopt detailed procedures on how to file and resolve complaints to ensure a consistent and effective application of the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Complaint and Appeals

Consideration should be given to removing the restriction in Article 73 of the Electoral Code which limits the rights of electoral contestants to only complain about the actions undertaken by other electoral contestants.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

Article 105 of the Electoral Code should be clarified to clearly state whether or not it is a prerequisite when filing an election day complaint to the SEC that the complaint must first be mentioned in the protocol of the relevant EB or MEC.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

Reform of the Electoral Code should address the recommendations identified in this report, as well as previous reports of the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission. It is recommended that clear provisions for the second round of mayoral elections are added to the Electoral Code. Reform should be inclusive and completed well in advance of the next elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Legal Framework

Consideration should be given to conducting a review of the procedures for compiling and maintaining voter lists. Clear, co-ordinated, and transparent procedures would enhance accuracy of the voter lists and contribute to public confidence.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Electoral legislation should provide a clear and detailed process for electoral contestants and voters to lodge Complaints and Appeals arising from alleged violations of the Electoral Code and regulations issued by the SEC. Consideration could also be given to the creation of a Legal Department within the SEC Secretariat that would inform SEC members of the legal situation and draft legal documents and justifications.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Pre-Election Day Complaints and Appeals

In order to further enhance public confidence in the electoral process and to ensure an open campaign environment, relevant authorities should undertake greater initiatives to properly investigate allegations of voter intimidation and to take appropriate actions should any violations be proven.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Campaign

It is recommended that Article 151(1) of the Electoral Code is amended in order to ensure that election results are only annulled in case of serious violations that affect the overall election results.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Pst-Election Complaints and Appeals

The Electoral Code should specify what happens in a mayoral election when less than one third of voters turn out to vote in the first round.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Electoral System

The SEC could further enhance their transparency by strictly adhering to the requirement to post all minutes of meetings on their web page. The Electoral Code could be amended to specify that minutes must be posted no later than 48 hours after the session is held.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Other

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 SEC should resolve all Complaints and Appeals in an impartial manner free from politically motivated considerations. The law should be interpreted, implemented, and enforced in line with the intent of the law.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

The SEC could provide more voter information and education, particularly regarding time and procedures for updating personal data on the voter lists, group voting, and the secrecy of the vote.

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

It is recommended that the MECs are provided with the necessary resources in a timely manner. In addition, transparency of the work would increase if MECs hold only public meetings that are announced in advance.

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

Consideration could be given to providing frequent and more detailed trainings for EB members.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Administration

To ensure the secrecy of the vote, authorities could consider counting votes from small polling stations at the municipal level or other means, while safekeeping the integrity of the electoral process.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Days

A revision of the cut-off date for the finalization of voter lists could be considered to bring it closer to election day.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

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

The Electoral Code could include specific provisions regarding the time and conditions for withdrawal of registered candidate lists. It could also be considered to establish the possibility that a candidate list may be partly accepted (for example, only the names of candidates on the list that meet the eligibility criteria are accepted, and the others deleted from the list). Should such provisions be introduced, it is recommended that safeguards are established to ensure that the right to withdraw candidate lists is not abused.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

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: Candidate Registration

Further efforts to increase the number of women candidates are necessary. Consideration could be given to amending Article 64.5 of the Electoral Code, to provide that if a woman elected from a candidate list for municipal council resigns, she is replaced by the next woman on the list.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Authorities should exercise greater political will to ensure sufficient separation between state and party. Existing legislative safeguards, such as Article 8-a and 9 of the Electoral Code, should be interpreted in a consistent manner in order to prevent conflict of interest between executive government positions requiring neutrality and candidates pursuing political advantage. Provisions should be further expanded to include enforcement mechanisms.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

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: Election Campaign

As previously recommended, the discrepancy in the nature of thresholds for campaign donations between individuals and legal entities should be revised. The current provisions are discriminatory and grant an unfair advantage to large entities .

Recommendation # in final report: 17

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

Article 84 of the Electoral Code would benefit from further clarification to specify if the expenditure limitation applies to both rounds of elections when they are held.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

It is recommended that more detailed reporting templates for campaign finance be developed that require contestants to itemize expenditures.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Consideration should be given to introducing proportional and dissuasive sanctions for non-submission of pre-election campaign finance reports. The law should also clearly specify campaign finance requirements should a second round be held.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

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

It is recommended that electoral contestants be obliged to provide a breakdown of expenditures by municipality so as to assess if campaign finance rules have been respected.

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

Considerations could be given to establishing requirements for the appointment of members of the Broadcasting Council, giving priority to professionalism and impartiality rather than political affiliation.

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

Consideration could be given to allocate free airtime to electoral contestants in the second round of elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

It is recommended that provisions on the second round of the campaign in the media are clearly outlined in the legal framework.

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

Considerations could be given to establishing a minimum length for free presentations allotted to electoral contestants and requiring that the free presentations be broadcast during prime time.

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

The Electoral Law and the Law on Broadcasting Activity should be harmonized regarding the amount of paid advertisement which is allowed.

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

Clear and sufficient deadlines should be established for the Broadcasting Council to react to media violations effectively.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Media

The jurisdiction over pre-election complaints would benefit from clarification with a detailed description of the competences of the SEC and the MECs.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Pre-Election Day Complaints and Appeals

Consideration should be given to extending the deadline for the courts to decide on complaints, while ensuring it remains short enough to provide effective remedy.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

In order to guarantee effective redress, introduction of deadlines for the SEC to investigate complaints on early campaigning should be addressed.

Recommendation # in final report: 30

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The introduction of deadlines for the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption to investigate complaints on misuse of state resources during the campaign could be considered and the necessary resources to resolve them in a timely manner should be provided.

Recommendation # in final report: 31

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Pre-Election Day Complaints and Appeals

Article 31(2)(35) of the Electoral Code, which mandates the SEC to inspect voting material upon a complaint only if at least two complaints are submitted for a respective polling station, should be removed as it undermines the right to effective legal remedy. There should be no threshold for the number of complaints to be filed before they are considered.

Recommendation # in final report: 32

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Post-Election Complaints and Appeals

Measures should be undertaken to ensure access for persons with disabilities to polling stations.

Recommendation # in final report: 30

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Election Day

The Electoral Code should be amended to address the gaps and ambiguities identified in this report, as well as previous reports of the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission. Reform should be inclusive and completed well in advance of the next elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

A review of the Electoral Code could consider including provisions to regulate the situation where only one electoral contestant is running for parliamentary elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

The primary legislation for conduct of referenda should be amended to provide general principles on the media coverage of the referendum campaign. In particular, it should guarantee equality of opportunity for the supporters and opponents of the proposal being voted on, with modalities for public and private media, in conformity with freedom of expression.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

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: 2021

Final report heading: Media

The SEC and MoIA should continue the process of updating of voter register though a co-ordinated effort according to clear responsibilities and procedures. Adequate resources and time should be allocated to accomplish this task before the next elections. This process should be transparent and ensure access to political parties and civil society. It should be accompanied by a public information campaign in order to increase the citizens? confidence in the accuracy of voter Reg.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To improve the accuracy of the voter lists and to facilitate voters' participation, consideration should be given to extending the period of scrutiny of the voter lists and to bringing the deadline for changes closer to election day. An update of the voter register between rounds could also be considered.

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: Election Administration

To enhance the public service mandate, including the capacity for investigative and analytical reporting, diversification of funding should be considered with the aim to strengthen financial independence of the public broadcaster.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

Continued vigorous efforts should be taken by the authorities to counter any form of pressure on public-sector employees, including clear public statements and written instructions by senior state officials that such pressure will not be tolerated and that no citizen should fear any negative consequences as a result of supporting or not supporting any candidate or party. Public-sector employees should be actively encouraged to report any instances of pressure, and such cases should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, with protection for those who report these cases.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Campaign

The allocation of state advertisements should be done in a transparent, objective and non-discriminatory manner, including by providing detailed information on the substance and funds for such advertisements.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

The scope of audits by the State Audit Office (SAO) should ensure comprehensive review of compliance with campaign financing rules, and the SAO should be granted the necessary investigatory powers. To enhance the transparency and effectiveness of campaign finance oversight, the SAO should have adequate resources and technical expertise.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: No longer valid

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To increase public confidence and provide easier access of voters to verify voter lists, consideration could be given to displaying printed excerpts of voter lists at locations convenient to voters, possibly at polling stations.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Voter Registration

As required by law and in order to increase transparency and public confidence in its work, all SEC sessions should be open to public; all SEC decisions should be published on their website without delay.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

If the current out-of-country voting system is maintained, alternative provisions should be made for voters to exercise their right to vote if voting abroad is cancelled.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Electoral System

Citizens, including public or state employees, should not be subject to pressure or intimidation. Authorities should actively encourage citizens to report any cases of pressure, supported by verifiable evidence. Any instances and allegations of pressure and intimidation should be thoroughly and effectively investigated and prosecuted by authorities.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Campaign

Consideration should be given to reviewing the existing thresholds for presidential elections to minimize the risk of failed elections. The legal framework could be amended to calculate the winning majority in the first round from the number of votes cast, while the second round threshold requirement could be removed.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Electoral System

Secondary 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 State Audit Office should be mandated to review interim reports and to promptly publish its findings. The deadline for the submission of final reports should not exceed one month after the election. The rules should clarify the reporting structure and requirements, to provide for uniformity of campaign finance reporting.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

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

Consideration should be given to extending the period for the collection of supporting signatures by prospective candidates.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

The legislation should clearly stipulate the primary institution to regulate the broadcast media coverage during the referendum campaign.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Media

It is recommended to replace the legal requirement of MRT for exact amount of time in every newscast devoted to the coverage of campaign activities of individual parties with a more general requirement requiring impartiality and balance while respecting editorial independence of the public broadcaster.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

The State Election Commission and other actors should continue voter and civic education efforts to prevent family voting and preserve free choice for each voter. These education efforts should also tackle vote-buying, while law enforcement agencies should investigate vote-buying schemes and hold their organizers to account.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election day

Consideration should be given to establishing and ensuring a more efficient communication and support from SEC to local election management bodies. Comprehensive and standardized training for SEC local officials and MEC members should be undertaken before new elections are called. The local offices should be provided with the necessary resources for conducting their work in a timely and effective manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

To ensure effective remedy, all election-related cases should be decided within timely deadlines clearly stated in the law.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

To facilitate the equal participation of persons with physical disabilities in elections, the State Election Commission, in co-operation with the relevant state authorities, should continue to take measures to improve the accessibility of polling stations and to train polling station staff about assistive tools.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Secondary thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election day

To ensure secrecy of the vote, polling stations with fewer than ten voters should be merged with nearby polling stations and their ballots cast together. Counting procedures for votes from penitentiary and other institutions should preserve the secrecy of the voter's choice.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election day

In line with OSCE commitments and to ensure transparency for all stakeholders, the legal framework should provide for partisan observation of all stages of the referendum process.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Observation

The Electoral Code would benefit from a complete review in order to harmonize it internally and with other relevant laws. The review should be conducted after consultations between all political stakeholders and relevant civil society organizations. It should be completed well in advance of the next elections. Training for electoral staff and public awareness programmes should be undertaken to enhance the effective implementation of the Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Legal Framework

A comprehensive review of electoral legislation should be undertaken to address the shortcomings identified in this and in prior ODIHR reports. Campaign and media rules should regulate the presidential contest and ensure equal opportunities for candidates. Rules for the second round should be clarified. The reform process should be public, inclusive, and carried out sufficiently in advance of the next election.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

Eligible voters should not be excluded from the voter register due to expired documents. Legislative and administrative measures should be taken to enable everyone who has the right to vote to effectively exercise this right.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

All eligible voters should be added to the voter lists, regardless of the validity of their identification card or passports, as provided by the Constitution.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Voter Registration

As previously recommended, consideration could be given to providing alternative methods for signature collection in order to reduce the potential for intimidation.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

In order to increase transparency and public awareness, Municipal Election Commissions should publish decisions and minutes of sessions in a timely and consistent manner. Adequate means, such as access to the municipality websites or social media platforms, should be provided for this purpose.

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

To enhance the transparency and oversight of campaign finance, the legislation should regulate third-party activities and require accounting of expenses incurred by political parties supporting candidates. Loans received by political parties and candidates for the purpose of election campaigning should be subject to similar restrictions and reporting requirements as donations.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

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

The legal framework for referenda should be reviewed and harmonised with the Electoral Code. In particular, the Referendum Law should be amended to include provisions on the campaign and campaign finance specific to referenda.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Legal Framework

The legal framework for financing the referendum campaign should be amended to clarify the use of public funding, as well as requirements for disclosure, auditing and sanctions. To enhance transparency, consideration could be given to requiring interim financial reports that are published prior to referendum day.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Consideration could be given to mandate an impartial body with the timely review of any proposed referendum question, to ensure clarity and legality.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Legal Framework

The applicability of threshold criteria to consultative referenda should be clarified in the law.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Legal Framework

The State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption should be provided with adequate human and financial resources to effectively carry out its mandate during the electoral period.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Monitoring and supervision of campaign finance provisions should be carried out by an independent agency that has the necessary personnel and expertise to effectively monitor for irregularities. Should that be the SAO, they should be provided with the adequate powers and resources.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To guarantee equitable coverage and access for all political contestants, the broadcast media should ensure balance in their news and current affairs reporting in the pre-campaign period, as required by the law.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

To avoid any confusion and the rejection of candidate list for technical reasons, all specific documents required for each list could be enumerated in the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

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: 2020

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

To allow effective legal remedy, the SEC should develop permanent instructions on complaints and appeals process. Such regulations could be harmonized with the new complaint management system.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The State Election Commission should develop comprehensive cyber security guidelines for all personnel and systems that handle or contain election data. It should conduct trainings for all State and Municipal Election Commission members and staff in mitigating risks and handling possible cyber security incidents.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

To ensure sustainability of the SEC administrative capacity, all necessary support positions should be permanent, based on open and competitive recruitment.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

To improve access to legal remedy and decrease the workload of the State Election Commission, the legal framework should specify which election-related complaints are handled by Municipal Election Commissions, and their capacity to consider such complaints should be strengthened.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

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

Consideration should be given to aligning the official campaign period with the timeline for registration of contestants, to ensure campaign regulations apply consistently to all participants. Political activities before the official campaign period should not be outlawed.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Campaign

Consideration should be given to clarifying the rules to preserve the validity of ballots that clearly express the voters' will. Consideration should also be given to allow for the replacement of accidentally spoiled ballots.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election day

Deadlines for the submission and resolution of complaints should allow adequate preparation and a reflected decision.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

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

In line with international standards, disaggregated data on gender and ethnic representation produced during the electoral process should be published in a comprehensive manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Participation of National Minorities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

The Electoral Code should be harmonized with the Constitution and state clearly that all hearings on election related cases should be held in public and that decisions are made public immediately.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

To ensure equality of the vote, legislation could foresee periodic review of district boundaries by an independent body. When district boundaries are redefined, it should be done in a timely, transparent, impartial and inclusive manner.

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 implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Electoral System

As previously recommended, the legislation should be harmonized with the objectives of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, by removing all restrictions on voting rights on the basis of intellectual or psychosocial disability.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

The legal framework should be reviewed to eliminate undue restrictions on the right to lodge electoral complaints and appeals, and to provide for effective legal remedies. Decisions and actions of the election administration should be reasoned and subject to timely and effective judicial review.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The state should further publicly promote the existing self-regulatory mechanisms and bodies established to protect professional and ethical journalistic standards, such as the Council of Media Ethics. In addition, it should consider structural and targeted policies to enhance the quality of journalism, including in local media, and to strengthen media and digital literacy.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

To ensure the stability and professionalism of the election administration, legal provisions should be adopted which clearly establish the composition and length of mandate of a permanent State Election Commission. Essential personnel of the SEC secretariat should be employed on a permanent basis.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

In order to enhance the effective exercise of voting rights, the SEC should develop and implement a timely, comprehensive and targeted voter education programme, including information on voter registration and complaints procedures.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

If the policy of reimbursing political advertisements is to be preserved, the law should be amended to provide for a reasonable and realistic timeframe for reimbursements.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

Political parties, as producers of political advertisements, should be legally responsible for their content.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

Continued vigorous efforts should be made by the authorities to counter any form of pressure on voters and on public and private-sector employees, including buying of votes. In line with existing legislation, reports of pressure and vote buying should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, with protection for those who reported. Public institutions should be proactive in informing public and state employees of independent mechanisms where they can report pressure in relation with elections, and senior state officials should issue clear public statements and written instructions that such actions will not be tolerated and that no citizen should fear any negative consequences as a result of supporting or not supporting any candidate or party.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign

Consideration should be given to aligning the official campaign period with the timeline for registration of contestants, to ensure campaign regulations apply consistently to all. Regular political activities before the official campaign period should not be prohibited and should be regulated.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Campaign

The legal framework should be comprehensibly revised to address all outstanding ODIHR recommendations and to eliminate the numerous existing gaps and inconsistencies. The parliament should undertake this revision well before the next elections, following an open and inclusive consultation process in which the proposals by all stakeholders are given meaningful consideration.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

The Electoral Code should be comprehensively reviewed in order to harmonize it internally and with other relevant laws, to bring it in line with OSCE commitments, international obligations and good practice. The revision should be done in a public procedure, after a broadly inclusive consultation process and sufficiently in advance of the next elections in order to guarantee legal certainty.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

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

In a coordinated effort, state and local authorities as well as other actors involved in the election process should undertake further measures to ensure independent access of persons with various types of disabilities to the entire election process.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

In line with international obligations, practical measures should further strive to ensure full access of persons with disabilities to the voting process.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Day

To enhance transparency, the Electoral Code should require comprehensive disclosure of all types of campaign income, as well as expenditures by contestants, several days before election day. Campaign finance reports should include a breakdown of expenditures by constituency, and the deadline for submitting final reports should be shortened to reflect international good practice. In line with a prior recommendation, a mechanism for electronic submission of financial reports could be established.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

All relevant actors should coordinate to ensure the independent participation of persons with various types of disabilities in the entire electoral process, in line with international standards and good practice, ensuring that the premises and layout of polling stations are independently accessible and that information about the electoral process is available in accessible formats.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

Regulations on paid political advertisement in the media should be reconsidered, in order to allow unimpeded access to the media on a non-discriminatory basis.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

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

To ensure the operational independence and efficiency of the State Election Commission, the authorities should guarantee that it receives an adequate and timely budget allocation. The capacities of the Commission’s personnel should match the responsibilities vested in the Commission under the Electoral Code, with essential staff employed on a permanent basis.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

In order to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, a comprehensive cyber-strategy should be developed and implemented by the SEC. It should include institutional capacity, adequate software and hardware, security measures, and a fully trained and permanent IT staff within the election administration.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

Consideration could be given to strengthening the Municipal Election Commissions’ capacity and relevant procedures for handling complaints. The electronic system for filing and tracking complaints could be upgraded to provide timely updates of submitted complaints and increase transparency.

Recommendation # in final report: 31

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The legislature should consider, in consultation with the media regulator and other stakeholders, steps to regulate campaign activities and political advertising in online media and social network portals, and their financing.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Campaign

All relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies, should make concerted efforts to monitor, identify, and investigate allegations of electoral violations such as vote-buying, pressure on voters, and the misuse of administrative resources. Such investigations should be conducted in a thorough, timely, and transparent manner. Voters should be systematically informed about mechanisms for reporting violations.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Electoral Campaign

The practice of state funding being paid directly to media outlets could be reconsidered. If maintained, to increase accountability and transparency, the legislation should establish clear and objective criteria for the eligibility of online news portals for state reimbursement of paid political advertisements.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Media

To ensure equitable access to resources and contribute to a higher quality and more diverse overall media environment, alternative funding methods for print, broadcast and online media outlets within a secure and transparent framework could be explored, based on inclusive consultations with all relevant stakeholders.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Media

To ensure equality of the vote, legislation should foresee periodic review of district boundaries by an independent body. When district boundaries are redefined, it should be done in a timely, transparent, impartial and inclusive manner under a clear and consistent methodology.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

In line with the principle of equality of opportunity, campaign rules should be revised to provide for more equitable access to the media and allocation of spaces for posters and billboards for small parties and independent candidates.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign

The regulatory framework for voter registration procedures should be consolidated and harmonized to eliminate inconsistencies.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

As previously recommended, consideration should be given to clarifying the rules to preserve the validity of ballots on which the voters’ will is clearly expressed. Consideration should also be given to allowing for the replacement of accidentally spoilt ballots.

Recommendation # in final report: 35

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Day

If retained as a tool for the selection of election commission members, the Ministry of Information Society and Administration should update its database of public employees, engaging the respective institutions. The authorities could consider revising the pool of state bodies from which public employees are called to serve on election commissions.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

The legal framework should be reviewed to eliminate undue restrictions on the right to lodge electoral complaints and appeals, in order to provide for effective legal remedies.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

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: Complaints and Appeals

Rules on the admissibility of complaints should establish reasonable requirements, and the scope of admissible evidence should not be unduly limited. Decisions of the election administration should be reasoned, ensuring effective examination of the merits of all complaints.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The legal framework for campaigning should be further amended to include clear rules for the participation of public officials, including on social networks.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign

To ensure consistency and transparency in the results tabulation process, clear procedures for rectifying errors and discrepancies in result protocols should be established, including criteria for the recounts of ballots. All relevant data collected during election day, including the number of voters added to the voter lists, should be published by the SEC in a timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 36

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Day

To enhance the integrity of and trust in the voting process, the authorities should undertake comprehensive efforts to improve the quality of databases used for voter identification on election day and the functionality of the biometric voter identification system.

Recommendation # in final report: 33

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Day

To enhance the credibility and ensure the integrity of the biometric voter identification system, the State Election Commission should publish the number of voters who were identified by the equipment, per constituency and polling station, as part of the announcement of preliminary results.

Recommendation # in final report: 34

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Day

The legal framework should be amended to provide for possibilities for independent councillor candidates to contest an election individually.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

To facilitate the exercise of voting rights, additional measures could be considered to enfranchise first-time voters without ID cards, citizens whose IDs expire shortly before the call for elections and citizens who do not collect a new ID before the voter list is updated by the SEC.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To ensure efficient filing and handling of complaints, the online complaint submission system should be evaluated and redesigned.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The Electoral Code should require that campaign finance reports be submitted and published on the day of submission in a uniform format suitable for public scrutiny and accompanied by supporting financial documentation. Sanctions for late or non-submission should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. The deadline for the submission of final reports should be readjusted to reflect international good practice.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

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

In order to guarantee political independence, the public broadcaster should undergo a series of reforms, including changing the procedure for selection and appointment of the members of the Programmatic Council, and reducing its dependence on the state budget. Further reforms of the public broadcaster should aim at improving the quality of content produced in-house, including investigatory and analytical journalism.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Media

The legal requirement on daily reporting by the media regulator to the election administration could be replaced by ad hoc reports addressing specific election-related concerns.

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 implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Media

To further promote pluralism in candidate registration, the electoral legislation should be revised to provide the possibility for individual candidacies.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

To enhance the accuracy of the voter register, adequate mechanisms for updating, harmonizing and cleaning the relevant state databases that serve as the basis for the register should be established. The authorities should facilitate the conduct of meaningful audits of the voter register and other pertinent databases.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To prevent group voting and preserve free choice for each voter, the State Election Commission should enhance training sessions and voter education campaigns. Election officials should enforce effective procedural safeguards during voting, such as informing voters about the voting process and upholding rules for assisted voting to prevent group or family voting.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Days

To ensure the operational efficiency of the State Election Commission and the Municipal Election Commissions, the authorities should provide adequate, effective, and timely budget allocations to these bodies, including in non-election years when needed, to ensure adequate conditions for hiring sufficient qualified staff.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

To enhance the effectiveness of appointing Municipal Election Commissions and electoral boards, consideration should be given to updating and revising the database of civil and public servants and broadening the eligibility criteria to expand the pool of suitable appointees. To ensure the stability of these bodies, the legislation should establish a reasonable deadline for changes in their composition prior to election day.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

To ensure the secrecy of the vote, legal criteria for establishing polling stations should be reviewed. In particular, polling stations with fewer than ten voters should be merged with nearby polling stations and their ballots cast together.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Days

The SEC should take measures to lower the incidence of procedural inconsistencies during the vote count and arithmetic mistakes on results protocols, including by revising procedures and results protocols and by enhancing the training of election board members.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

To guarantee that all eligible citizens can effectively exercise their right to vote, authorities should take appropriate measures to ensure that all voters, including those without valid identification documents, are effectively included in the voter register. The Electoral Code should be amended to provide for updates to the voter register between the two rounds of the presidential election.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To ensure meaningful access to and transparency of the voter register and voter lists, the SEC should publish voter registration data disaggregated by polling station, periodically and before and after each election, while limiting the type of voters’ personal data made publicly available and introducing technical safeguards to prevent its unauthorized processing.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The requirement for prospective candidates to disclose their ethnic identity should be reconsidered.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of National Minorities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Relevant state and public institutions should take additional steps to enhance women’s participation in the electoral process and political decision-making. Political parties should identify and address barriers to women’s involvement in politics, including by conducting gender audits and reviewing and reforming intra-party practices that hinder their effective representation within party structures.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Electoral Campaign

The legal framework should be harmonized with international standards related to the right to vote of persons with intellectual and psycho-social disabilities.

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: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To increase transparency and ensure due process, the right to a public hearing involving both parties should be protected at both courts and election commissions.

Recommendation # in final report: 30

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The Electoral Code should be comprehensively reviewed in order to eliminate inconsistencies, harmonize it with other relevant legislation, and to bring it in line with OSCE commitments, international obligations and good practice. Comprehensive rules for campaigning, including access to the media and campaign finance in presidential elections, should be established to ensure equitable opportunities for both presidential and parliamentary candidates. Any such legislative reform should be public, inclusive, and carried out sufficiently in advance of the next election.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

Consideration could be given to revising the system of funding of electoral campaigns, based on objective, clear and reasonable criteria. For presidential candidates, public funds could be allocated equally, while for parliamentary campaigns, allocation could be proportionally based on parties’ election results. For the campaign activities of non-parliamentary and newly established parties, the allocation of public funding should be considered, potentially based on minimum thresholds of support.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Electoral Campaign

Consideration should be given to extending the deadlines for applications and decisions on electoral complaints and appeals to align with international good practice.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

To prevent avenues for quid pro quo transactions, legal provisions regarding donations to electoral campaigns should be revised to harmonize donation timelines with the campaign period and remove the possibility of donating after the elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

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: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To enhance the transparency and effectiveness of campaign finance oversight, the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and the State Audit Office should be adequately resourced and possess the necessary technical expertise. These institutions should conduct effective scrutiny of campaign finance and give proper and timely consideration to all reports and complaints concerning alleged irregularities.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To ensure access to effective legal remedies, the legal framework should be reviewed to eliminate undue restrictions on voters’ rights to lodge electoral complaints and appeals.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

The rules in the Electoral Code for invalidating election results should be reviewed to ensure they are proportionate to the violations found. Invalidation should be considered only for serious violations that affect the results, and could be conditional on a defined threshold. For all invalidations, the law should require repeated voting.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Post-Election Developments

To guarantee the equality of the vote, the legislation should prescribe a clear and consistent methodology and rules for a periodic review of district boundaries by an independent body. The delineation of district boundaries should be conducted in a timely, transparent, impartial, and inclusive manner, well before the next election.

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

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Electoral System and Legal Framework

Greater access to legal remedies should be facilitated, such as through a fully functional online submission system. The election administration should thoroughly examine all complaints in a timely manner and adopt substantiated decisions, which should be published promptly.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Dispute Resolution

All campaign finance reports should include information on contributions and expenses incurred, including those by political parties supporting presidential candidates. Reports should be submitted electronically in an easily searchable format and made public immediately upon submission. The deadlines for the submission and audit of final financial reports should be shortened to align with international good practice.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

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: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Provisions regulating the public broadcaster’s newscasts during the campaign period should be revised, with a view to allow for editorial freedom and ensure equitable access and news coverage of smaller parties and independent candidates. Further reforms should aim at strengthening the quality of content produced by the public broadcaster, including investigative and analytical journalism.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Media

Provisions regulating the public broadcaster’s newscasts during the campaign should be revised, with a view to provide for editorial freedom, pluralism of views and equal opportunities for contestants.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

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

Rules on the admissibility of complaints should establish reasonable requirements and the scope of admissible evidence should not be excessively limited. Decisions and actions of the election administration should be reasoned, ensuring due guarantees for effective examination of the merits of complaints.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

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

In line with previous ODIHR recommendations, more attention should be paid to harmonization of the data supplied to the voter register, namely the interoperability of received data and standardization of the address system. Quality audits of the register should be undertaken and made public on a regular basis.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

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 ensure integrity and public confidence in the election process, the use of new technologies, including biometric identification devices, should be introduced after sufficient time and with detailed provisions to ensure adequate testing and for all stakeholders to be acquainted with the operation of such equipment.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Deadlines for the submission and resolution of complaints could be extended to allow adequate preparation and a reflected decision. Consideration should be given to extending deadlines for examination of election-related misdemeanour cases, to comply with good practice. Expedited procedures for the investigation of electoral offenses should be provided.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

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

The authorities should take the appropriate measures necessary to ensure that all eligible voters are included in the voter register and the voter lists. The Electoral Code should be amended accordingly, including by removing restrictions based on expired identification documents, and by clarifying procedures for the inclusion in voter lists of persons who turn 18 between rounds.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Limitations on the right to stand as a candidate should be reviewed to ensure that disqualification based on a conviction is proportionate to the gravity of the offense.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

As previously recommended, the legal framework should be harmonized with international standards by removing all restrictions on electoral rights on the basis of intellectual or psychosocial disability.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

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: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The law should stipulate a clear timeframe for the holding of repeat elections in cases where the turnout requirement was not met in the first round of a mayoral election. To reduce the risk of failed elections, the voter turnout requirement for repeat elections could be reconsidered.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

Election administration bodies at all levels should ensure unimpeded access of all accredited observers to the entire election process. To enhance transparency, the election administration should keep records of all observers and contestants’ representatives accredited to observe, make these available to the public in a timely manner and provide those accredited with proper identification, clearly indicating their names and affiliation.

Recommendation # in final report: 32

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Citizen and International Observers

To ensure the stability and professionalism of the election administration, the tenure of the State Election Commissioners’ mandate should be clearly stipulated by the Electoral Code. The Code should also provide for a clear and transparent procedure of nomination and appointment of electoral commissioners.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

The accuracy of the voter register should be reinforced through systematic and electronic data updates, most notably for deaths and name changes, and the implementation of a co-ordinated nationwide system for the standardization of addresses.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Regulations on paid political advertisement in the media should be reconsidered, in order to allow unimpeded access to the media based on reasonable and objective criteria. A clear mechanism for dividing the budget among smaller parties and independent candidates should be established. The official decision on budget allocation for campaign advertisement in the media should be published in a timely manner.

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: 2025

Final report heading: Media

Legal provisions regarding donations should be revised in order to harmonize donation limits, to provide transparency of and limits on loans received by political parties for election campaigning, and to establish a mechanism to determine the market price of in-kind contributions.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

The legal framework for campaign finance should be revised to address existing gaps, including those concerning the amount of bank loans and the possibility to donate after elections, as well as third-party financing. To prevent undue influence by private donors and potential political corruption, donation and expenditure limits for local elections could be aligned so that a contestant’s campaign fund is not sourced from a single donation.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

The legal standing to file complaints should be extended to voters and citizen observers. To allow adequate time for the filing and handling of complaints, deadlines could be brought in line with international good practice.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

To ensure equal opportunities in the right to stand for all candidates, the required number of supporting signatures for independent candidates should be proportional to the actual number of registered voters per constituency. Consideration could be given to standardizing them at up to one per cent of registered voters, in line with international good practice.

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: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

In order to ensure a comprehensive regulatory framework, the Election Code should be revised to clarify and consolidate permanent detailed instructions on voter registration procedures. Requirements in the Code should correspond to the functionality of the central population register.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The possibility of granting jurisdiction to an entity directly in charge of voter registration on the local level could be considered to avoid burdening the State Election Commission and to ensure the high volume of voter registration complaints on election day are effectively handled.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

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 and relevant state and public institutions should take further steps to encourage the participation of women in the electoral process and in political decision-making.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign

As previously recommended, the database of state and public employees used for the selection of election officials should be updated, in order to ensure a smooth and efficient selection process. The pool of institutions from which employees are called to serve on election bodies could be revised.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

The agencies responsible for campaign finance oversight should conduct an effective scrutiny of campaign income and spending throughout the electoral process and should give proper and timely consideration to all reports and complaints concerning alleged irregularities.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

National broadcasters should endeavour to make their programmes accessible for persons with sensory impairments. Consideration could be given to amend the Electoral Code in order to provide clearer and more specific guidance on transmitting accessible information to the electorate.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Media

The regulation on closing the campaign account should ensure completion of financial operations. The deadline for the submission of final reports should be readjusted to reflect international good practice.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: No longer valid

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

The authorities should ensure adequate and timely financial and operational support to Municipal Election Commissions well ahead of election day. Communication and instructions from the State Election Commission to lower-level election bodies should be complete and timely, in order to ensure due co-ordination and unified implementation of procedures.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

To ensure the transparency of media ownership and of campaign expenditures, online media interested in selling space for paid political advertisements should abide by some basic transparency requirements, including verifiable information on ownership and funding.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

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 State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and the State Audit Office should be provided with adequate human and financial resources to effectively carry out their mandate during the electoral period.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Essential personnel should be employed in the State Election Commission’s secretariat on a permanent basis. The capacity of the secretariat’s human resources should match the powers vested to the Commission pursuant to the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Administration

To enhance transparency and public confidence in their work, the State Election Commission and Municipal Election Commissions should publish all relevant documentation, such as budget, procurement plan, as well as all regulations and decisions in a consistent and timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Election Administration

Further efforts should be taken by the authorities to counter any form of pressure on public-sector employees, including on police. Public officials should be systematically informed about applicable mechanisms for reporting any instances of pressure and assured they will not face negative consequences; the cases should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Election Campaign

The SEC should clarify any procedures not elaborated in the Electoral Code in a timely manner. Any clarification should be in line with the provisions of the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

As previously recommended, in order to increase transparency and public confidence in its work, all SEC sessions should be public. SEC minutes of the sessions and decisions should be published on its website regularly and without delay.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

The restriction that citizens may sign for only one candidate for each election could be reconsidered. The process would be more open and inclusive if citizens could sign for as many candidates as they choose to support. Such a provision might also increase voter confidence in the secrecy of their vote, since signing for a candidate would not necessarily be seen as supporting only that candidate.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

To avoid disenfranchisement of voters in prison, legal deficiencies related to the renewal of their identification documents should be corrected.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Day

To guarantee that eligible voters in penitentiary institutions are able to exercise their right to vote, those authorities responsible for compiling the lists of voters in these institutions should ensure that all eligible voters are included on the voter list and have an opportunity to renew expired identification documents.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voter Registration

To further safeguard the role of the AVMS, its members should be appointed in a manner that ensures its independence from political influence.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Media

As previously recommended, the Electoral Code would benefit from a complete review in order to harmonize it internally and with other relevant laws. The review should be conducted in a public procedure after consultations between all political stakeholders and relevant civil society representatives.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Legal Framework

As previously recommended, in order to reduce the potential for intimidation consideration could be given to providing alternative methods for signature collection or allowing for financial deposits.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

To ensure that MEC and EB members possess appropriate professional experience and/or to reduce perception of bias in the election administration, their selection process should be made more transparent by publishing the list of prospective MEC and EB members, opening the computer programme for third party verification and facilitating observation of the process.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

Political parties should consider internal measures to promote women to senior positions within party structures, and by including women in winnable positions on candidate lists.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Campaigning by third-parties in the electoral process could be subject to campaign finance legislation.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

To increase transparency and accountability, consideration could be given to itemizing incomes and expenditures in an itemized manner in campaign finance reports, accompanied by full bank statements.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

All decisions and (in)actions of the MECs and SEC should be subject to timely and effective judicial redress. Voters and citizen observers should be entitled to file any type of election-related complaint, including against the results.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

Consideration could be given to the decentralization of the complaints process, and the MECs capacity to handle complaints could be strengthened. The SEC's functioning on legal matters could be enhanced through more effective use of its legal department. Deadlines for submission and adjudication of complaints should be in line with international good practice.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

The complaints and lawsuits process can be further enhanced, to avoid gaps and inconsistencies in decision making, as follows: • The Electoral Code could specify whether the general Law on Administrative Procedure – which in places contradicts the Electoral Code – applies in the decision-making process on election-related complaints; efforts could be made to harmonize such legislation; • The Electoral Code could set a deadline for the SEC to propose officially the annulment of an election; • The Electoral Code or regulations could clarify whether complaints can be submitted by fax (under the Electoral Code they cannot be submitted by post). This is particularly important in regard to the protection of voters’ rights on election day; • The Electoral Code could specify the circumstances in which the SEC is obliged to inspect election material when reviewing complaints, to encourage a more investigative approach by the SEC. If the intention of the law is that election material should be inspected only if there is an objection registered in the EB or the MEC results protocol, this should be clearly stated in the Electoral Code; and • The Electoral Code could clearly state who is allowed to submit lawsuits against SEC decisions and the relevant timeframes.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The authorities should consider taking vigorous steps to counter any forms of pressure on or intimidation of voters, which was the most serious problem identified by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM in connection with the 2009 elections. In particular, senior public officials, including especially cabinet ministers and heads of public agencies, institutions, and companies, could make clear public statements and issue written instructions before and during the campaign period that no pressure on public employees will be tolerated and that no employee or citizen should fear for their employment, pension or social services as a result of supporting or not supporting any political party or candidate. Furthermore, cases of intimidation of citizens registered by the police and other law-enforcement bodies should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Election Campaign

Legislation should foresee periodic review of district boundaries by an independent body to account for population changes. When district boundaries are redefined, it should be done in a transparent, impartial and inclusive manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Electoral System

The parliament should adopt provisions for a permanent State Election Commission, to ensure stability and consistency in the administration of electoral processes.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

The EC should require interim campaign finance reports be submitted electronically and establish suitable penalties for late or non-submission. The template should include a breakdown of expenses by municipality and require reporting of incurred expenses. In addition, the law should require the publishing of interim and final reports on the day of submission.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

The Electoral Code’s provisions on campaign financing could be amended to ensure genuine oversight of financing rules and to establish effective limits on donations and expenditures, as well as to clarify reporting and auditing procedures. This especially includes the following: • Articles 83 and 84 of the Electoral Code could be reconsidered, with a view to abolishing exceptions for limits on campaign donations, which appear to undermine the intention of the law; • The procedure for denial of reimbursement to candidates, based on the Article 87 of the Electoral Code, could be clarified; The Electoral Code or regulations could specify the content and format of the financial reports to be submitted by contestants; in particular, the current form prescribed by the Ministry of Finance does not currently require contestants to submit information on expenditures, which undermines the transparency and usefulness of such reporting; • The auditing g procedure could be enhanced, to ensure some oversight of the finances of all candidates who participate in an election; and • Article 86 of the Electoral Code, which provides for reimbursement of campaign expenses for elected candidates only, could be reconsidered and possibly replaced by a system under which all candidates who win a certain percentage of votes are entitled to reimbursement. Such a percentage could be high enough to ensure that candidates have a degree of popular support, but low enough to provide more incentives a broader range of candidates, particularly women and members of smaller ethnic communities, who sometimes face difficulties in raising the funds required to mount a strong campaign.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Legal Framework

As previously recommended, the EC should be revised to include all eligible voters in the voter lists, regardless of the validity of their identification documents. In line with international obligations, limitations on voting rights on the basis of legal incapacity should be removed, whilst necessary support mechanisms to exercise the right to vote should be provided.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Training of MECs and EBs could be improved. In particular, more focus could be put on counting procedures, the completion of results protocols, and the tabulation process at MEC level. Consideration could be given to making training of MECs and EBs more interactive.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Final report heading: Election Administration

It is recommended that AVMS members have prior media experience and are not primarily political appointees.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Media

Steps could be taken to depoliticize public employment and professionalize the civil service to protect civil servants against political pressure. These measures should apply to civil servants, and all other public employees and employees of public agencies and companies. It would be advisable that this protection is also reflected in the contract of employment of public servants and, possibly, in a specific charter of ethics for public servants.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Countering Pressure on or Intimidation of Voters

Municipalities should ensure adequate and timely financial and operational planning, providing MECs with the necessary resources well ahead of elections. In addition, the relevant authorities should ensure that funds for any municipalities, including with blocked accounts, are transferred on time.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

While ensuring that strict requirements are maintained to qualify for alternative voting methods, consideration could be given to simplifying procedures so as to allow hospitalized voters, homebound voters, and those with reduced mobility to exercise their right to vote without unreasonable obstacles.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The Electoral Code should be revised to provide a clear division of responsibilities between the MoIA and the SEC related to challenges to voter lists. Authorities should be obliged by law to investigate such challenges within a reasonable time frame.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Legal Framework ad Electoral System

The SEC should consider developing a comprehensive and timely voter education programme, including in national minority languages. Particular attention should be paid to the marking of ballots by voters and secrecy of the vote.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of National Minorities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

The Electoral Code should be comprehensively reviewed to address identified shortcomings, gaps and ambiguities, including provisions for second round of elections, to bring it in line with OSCE commitments, international obligations and good practice. The review and amendments should be conducted in a public procedure, after a broadly inclusive consultation process and sufficiently in advance of the next election.

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: 2021

Final report heading: Legal Framework

Consideration should be given to enhancing the resources of the SEC secretariat to ensure it has sufficient capacity to undertake its duties in an efficient manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Election Administration

In order to increase public confidence in the process, measures should be taken to ensure that active registration for voting abroad is performed only by the voter.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Voter Registration

All instances and allegations of pressure and intimidation should be thoroughly and effectively investigated and, where substantiated, prosecuted by authorities in a timely manner. Authorities should also provide public information on what constitutes corrupt activity during a referendum campaign.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign

The legal framework for conducting referendum campaigns should be amended to include clear rules for campaigning, including the participation of public officials.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign

Consideration should be given to revising the SEC?s Rules of Procedure to improve the internal organization, efficiency and transparency of its work.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

Provisions for annulment of polling station results should be amended to provide for annulments only where violations might impact the overall results. The law should establish clear and reasonable rules for evidence in complaints, and these should be objectively and consistently applied.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

Consideration should be given to conducting a review of the procedures for compiling and maintaining voter lists. Clear, co-ordinated, and transparent procedures for all institutions involved in updating the voter lists would enhance accuracy and could contribute to public confidence.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Provisions on campaign finance reporting should be expanded to provide more effective mechanisms for audit. Consideration should also be given to adopting a more detailed template for the reports that requires contestants to itemize expenditures.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

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

In order to increase transparency and public confidence in their work, the SEC and MECs should make their regulations, guidelines, decisions and minutes of sessions, including those related to procurement, public in a timely manner.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

As required by the law, the SEC should review complaints, including pre-referendum day complaints, in public sessions and publish its decisions through the electronic system of complaints management.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The provisions on the distribution of paid advertising could be reviewed to increase access for non-parliamentary parties.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

Consideration could be given to providing alternative methods for signature collection in order to reduce the potential for intimidation. In addition, in line with a previous recommendation, restriction that citizens may sign for only one candidate for each election could be reconsidered.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: No longer valid

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Consideration could be given to amending the law to allow for replacement of ballots which voters spoiled accidentally. If so, regulations for such cases should be established.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Final report heading: Voting, Counting, Tabulation and Announcement of Results

The Electoral Code could be amended to state that in cases where the serial numbers of ballot box security seal established before the vote count do not match those recorded when the ballot box was sealed, voting at such polling stations should be annulled automatically and the election be repeated. Consideration could also be given to obliging the SEC to investigate such cases ex officio.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Final report heading: Voting, Counting, Tabulation and Announcement of Results

As previously recommended, the Electoral Code could be amended to clarify the requirements for balanced reporting during the pre-campaign period. Consideration could be given to further strengthen the independence of the AVMS, granting it greater resources to ensure its oversight role, and providing it with sanctioning powers that are effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

Efforts should be taken to further strengthen editorial independence of the public media from political influence to facilitate citizen?s access to pluralistic information.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

As previously recommended, the legal requirement of MRT to provide an exact amount of time in every newscast devoted to the coverage of campaign activities of individual contestants could be replaced with a more general requirement, providing for impartiality and balance while respecting its editorial independence.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

SEC members and administrative court judges should decide complaints with complete impartiality, strictly applying the law and due process. A technical approach to complaints should be avoided. To increase transparency, public court hearings in all election-related cases should be guaranteed.

Recommendation # in final report: 30

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The legal requirement for the MRT to provide an exact amount of time in every newscast devoted to the coverage of parties' campaign activities should be replaced with a more general requirement to allow equitable access and news coverage of smaller parties and independent candidates, as well as preserving the balance between the principle of equal opportunities among contestants, pluralism of views and journalistic freedom.

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: 2021

Final report heading: Media

The Electoral Code or other legislation could set clear and short timeframes for the resolution by the courts of misdemeanor procedures on election-related cases instituted by the SEC, in order to ensure the timely enforcement of election rules and the right of election participants to an effective remedy.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

As previously recommended, the Electoral Code should be harmonized with the Constitution and clearly state that all court hearings on election-related cases must be held in public and that decisions should be published immediately.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The campaign process would be improved if municipalities rigorously implement their obligation to designate places for the posting of campaign posters in a timely manner and in designated places that are sufficiently large, visible and suitable for posters.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Campaign

Political parties should comply with the gender quota requirements set out in the EC; while the SEC and MECs should strictly enforce the legislation. Approval of the lists should be subject to judicial review.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Consideration could be given to standardising the required number of signatures for independent candidates at up to one per cent of registered voters in line with international good practice. In addition, as previously recommended, consideration could be given to providing alternative methods for signature collection in order to reduce the potential for intimidation.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

The EC could be revised to prohibit coalitions and lists, submitted by a group of voters, from using the same name/or logo as a registered party and to regulate the withdrawal of candidates.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

As previously recommended, authorities should exercise greater political will to ensure sufficient separation between state and party.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign

The EC should guarantee independent candidates campaign conditions on an equitable basis with other contestants.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign

To improve the accuracy of the voter list and to facilitate voters' participation, an update of the voter lists between the rounds should be considered. Consideration should be given to extending the period of scrutiny of the voter lists and to bringing the deadline for changes closer to election day.

Recommendation # in final report: 15

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voter Registration

As previously recommended, the SEC should review all complaints and appeals in an impartial manner, free from political considerations. The law should be interpreted and enforced consistently and in line with the intent of the law.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

The law should prescribe proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for the non-submission of campaign finance reports and other violations. In addition, consideration could be made to amend the legislation allowing all electoral stakeholders to file complaints on campaign finance violations.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

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: 2019

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Consideration could be given to decentralize the mechanism for electoral dispute resolution. MECs could be tasked to deal with complaints on issues that fall under their administrative responsibilities, so as to allow for a timely and effective remedy.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

As previously recommended, to ensure sustainability of SEC administrative capacity, all essential support positions should be permanent and based on an open and competitive recruitment process.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

Detailed and timely procedures for the review of candidate lists should be introduced to ensure consistency and inclusiveness of the registration process, including allowing sufficient time for contestants to correct irregularities. A review of the Electoral Code could consider specifying all the conditions and required documents for withdrawal and replacement of candidates on lists.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

A mechanism for timely and effective redress should be established for all eligible voters not found in the voter lists in order that they can exercise their right to vote.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The Electoral Code and relevant sub-legal acts such as SEC instructions would benefit from a thorough review and amendments to harmonize provisions and to avoid gaps and inconsistencies within the legislation and with its practical application. Ideally, such a review would include an open process of public consultations. Some examples of existing gaps or inconsistencies include.16 - The Electoral Code does not make clear exactly what political activity is and is not permissible before the start of the official campaign period; - The Electoral Code does not clarify whether parties and candidates need to provide a list of their authorized representatives to MECs and, if so, what the deadline is and what sanctions, if any, apply for failure to provide such a list; - The Electoral Code does not state what happens if a candidate decides to withdraw from an election between the two rounds of voting; - Article 37 of the Electoral Code is in conflict with the Article 148.1 regarding competences for deciding upon complaints; and - Article 63.2 of the Electoral Code does not specify the procedure for the collection of support signatures during the candidate registration process at Ministry of Justice local offices.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Legal Framework

To ensure transparency and trust in the electoral process, all actual results protocols including those corrected later in the process should be uploaded online. Detailed procedures for correction of results protocols at the MEC should be provided.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Day

Persistent allegations of vote buying, especially in Roma settlements, should be addressed by the relevant authorities, both through voter education and prosecutions.

Recommendation # in final report: 29

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of National Minorities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Participation of National Minorities

Consideration could be given to granting the SAO investigative powers to undertake full campaign finance audits, including the power to request further documentation and testimonies from parties to ensure a full review of any possible infringement.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Consideration could be given to granting the SAO ex officio powers to undertake full campaign finance audits, including requesting further documentation and information from contestants, to ensure a comprehensive review against any possible infringement.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign Finance

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

The SCPC's investigative and enforcement powers and cooperation with law enforcement in election cases should be strengthened. State institutions should fully respect the SCPC's authority. Establishing regional SCPC offices or presence, especially in election periods, could contribute to tackling any election-related corruption. In addition, a concrete deadline for deciding on complaints will ensure timely and effective action.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

Consideration should be given to allow citizens the possibility of filing file complaints with the EBs, MECs or the SEC on election day, with a possibility of timely and effective remedy.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

To encourage equal participation of persons with disabilities in elections, the election administration should take further measures to improve the accessibility of polling stations.

Recommendation # in final report: 32

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voting, Counting and Tabulation of Results

The SEC should maintain a stable regulatory framework and refrain from amending the rules during an electoral period, except to address emergency matters. The SEC should ensure that applicable rules are not contrary to or inconsistent with the EC. Consideration could be given to introducing an expedited process for challenges to the legality of election-related legislation and regulations.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

The requirement that signature collection is performed at the local or regional office of the Ministry of Justice could be reconsidered, in light of assertions by a number of candidates that citizens may consider it intimidating to appear before a government official to sign in support of an opposition candidate. One alternative would be to allow candidates and parties to organize the signature collection themselves. In this case, the SEC should be tasked with verifying the signatures, possibly using a random sample.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Type of change required: No longer valid

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Media should provide more space for smaller communities and their representatives. Voter education and awareness campaigns, including on voters? right to cast their vote without fear of retribution, should target smaller communities and possibly be run in their language.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of National Minorities

Secondary thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Participation of National Minorities

As previously recommended, the SEC and MoIA should continue the process of updating the voter register through a co-ordinated effort and according to clearly defined responsibilities and procedures. This process should address the structural problems in a sustainable manner, be transparent and ensure access to political parties and civil society.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The SEC should consider providing more comprehensive trainings to lower-level commissions with a focus on election day procedures.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Election Administration

If political coverage by broadcast media is to be regulated during the pre-campaign period to ensure equitable coverage of contestants, the regulations should not prevent the media from providing normal coverage of political developments.

Recommendation # in final report: 16

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Media

The AVMS should initiate misdemeanour procedures against identified violations in a timely manner in order to increase public confidence and provide complainants with effective remedy. Sanctions should be clearly defined and commensurate with the gravity of the violation committed.

Recommendation # in final report: 21

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Media

To continue to function effectively, the BC will need to receive continued, adequate support and financing from the government and to retain its substantive independence. The parliament should fulfil its responsibility to ensure that all members of the BC are appointed in a timely fashion.

Recommendation # in final report: 18

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Final report heading: Media

The SEC and MECs should enforce the requirement for EBs to post publicly copies of counting protocol, immediately following the completion of the count.

Recommendation # in final report: 31

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Election Observation

The Electoral Code could clarify the authority and mandate of the Broadcasting Council to regulate media coverage of political activity between the date elections are announced and the start of the official campaign period. This authority and mandate should be in line with other legislation, such as the Law on Broadcasting Activity.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Legal Framework

Shorter deadlines could be established for courts to rule on lawsuits brought against broadcasters by the BC during the campaign and pre-campaign period, both to ensure that the BC can enforce the regulations in a timely fashion, and to allow broadcasters the opportunity for a speedy and effective remedy if their rights have been violated.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Media

Consideration could be given to amending Article 64.5 of the Electoral Code, to provide that if a woman elected from a candidate list for municipal council resigns, she is replaced by the next woman on the list.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Participation of Women

The SEC should resolve all complaints and appeals in an impartial manner, free from political considerations. The law should be interpreted, implemented, and enforced in line with the intent of the law. In addition, the SEC should consider establishing a legal department, as provided for by the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Election Administration

In order to increase public confidence in the work of the SEC and in accordance with the law, the SEC should ensure that all election-related information of public interest, including decisions and procurement procedures, are made public 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: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

The authorities could consider ways to provide qualified professional staff, resources and premises for the SEC. In addition to the need for regular professional staff, the SEC needs sufficient personnel and resources to implement its new responsibilities in regard to the voter lists and out of country voting.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Election Administration

In order to enhance the accountability of election observers and encourage transparency, accreditation badges should identify the observer as well as the associated organization.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Observation

The SCPC should consider reviewing cases in open, public sessions in reasonable legal deadlines. Decisions should be public and appealable.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The Electoral Code or election regulations should state clearly that domestic and international observers are entitled to receive copies of the entire EB and MEC results protocols, rather than just the tabulation parts.

Recommendation # in final report: 30

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Citizen and International Observation

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Observation

To enhance the participation of women within the structure of political parties, authorities could enforce Article 18 of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, which requires political parties to adopt, every two years, “a plan for equal opportunities,” that specifies the methods and measures they will use to promote of equal participation of women and men in the bodies of the party and their candidate lists.

Recommendation # in final report: 27

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Final report heading: Participation of Women

The number of homebound voters casting ballots should be included in the EB and MEC results protocols and could also be made available at the national level, in order to increase transparency and provide additional safeguards against possible electoral malpractice. The secrecy of the ballot for homebound voters should be ensured by EBs.

Recommendation # in final report: 19

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Election Day

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Final report heading: Voting, Counting, Tabulation and Announcement of Results

The SAO should be mandated to conduct a review of interim reports, and to publish its findings and refer possible violations to appropriate authorities prior to election day. The deadline for filing final reports should be within 30 days after the election. The law should establish the scope of audits to ensure comprehensive review against any possible infringement, and SAO granted the necessary investigatory powers. Established penalties for all violations should be imposed.

Recommendation # in final report: 24

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: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign Finance

Any purchasing of government-financed advertisement in the private media should at all times be based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria, with full and timely transparency on costs provided.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Media

To ensure effective remedy, the law should provide for timely judicial review of all election-related administrative decisions, including all State Election Commission regulations.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2025

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

The current system of allocation of mandates in out-of-country electoral constituencies should be reviewed in order to ensure that each member of parliament represents a similar number of registered voters and that the principle of equal suffrage is respected.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Electoral System

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

The Electoral Code should be amended to provide access to the public broadcaster on a non-discriminatory basis to all electoral contestants.

Recommendation # in final report: 20

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Media

The ballot papers printed for units of local self-government where at least 20 per cent of the citizens speak an official language other than Macedonian and which contain all information in Macedonian and the languages of such communities could be redesigned so that ordinal numbers of candidates (or candidate lists) are only included once, rather than separately for each language. This would simplify the ballot layout, increase the secrecy of the vote, and might reduce invalid ballots.

Recommendation # in final report: 28

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of National Minorities

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Final report heading: Participation of National Minorities

The SEC members should adhere to the legal requirement of impartiality and established procedures and respect the terms of reference set out for SEC members and the secretariat.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not evaluated

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

Authorities should exhibit greater political will to ensure sufficient separation between State and political party activities and take vigorous steps to counter any forms of pressure on voters. Senior public officials could make clear statements and issue written instructions that no pressure on public employees will be tolerated and that no employee or citizen should fear for their employment or social services as a result of supporting or not supporting any political party or candidate. All instances and allegations of pressure and intimidation should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted by the relevant authorities.

Recommendation # in final report: 1

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Legal Framework

Further measures could be taken to facilitate minority participation in public affairs and elections. In line with the EC requirement for an equitable representation of minorities in election management bodies, smaller communities should be better represented in election administration, both at the SEC and MEC level. Media should provide more equitable space for political parties representing smaller communities. Voter education and awareness campaigns, including on the right to vote without fear of retribution, should target minority communities and possibly be conducted in their languages.

Recommendation # in final report: 31

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of National Minorities

Secondary thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Participation of National Minorities

Campaign regulations should be applied in a manner that creates equal opportunities for contestants.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Election Campaign

The establishment of a permanent national address register should be prioritized, with the harmonization of residency data clearly defined.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voter Registration

In a coordinated effort and according to clearly defined responsibilities, the state authorities should continue updating and harmonising all pertinent registers and databases to provide an accurate basis for the voter register.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2024

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The legislation should be harmonized with the objectives of the CRPD, by removing all restrictions on voting rights on the basis of mental or intellectual disability.

Recommendation # in final report: 3

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The 40 per cent turnout requirement for the second round of a presidential election could be reconsidered and removed since it creates the potential for failed elections. If considered beneficial to the credibility of the electoral process, such a turnout requirement is recommended only for the first round.

Recommendation # in final report: 4

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Legal Framework

Secondary thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Final report heading: Legal Framework

SEC regulations on voting day procedures, including on interpreting the intention of the voter, should be in conformity with legislation and be adopted prior to the finalisation of training tools. Training for EB members could focus more on counting, with further details on results protocols and reconciliation procedures.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Sub-legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

Voter education could be increased in volume, timeliness and quality. Voter education could be aimed at particular concerns identified in recent elections, including intimidation and coercion, the rights of the voters, [...] Voter education could be aimed at particular concerns identified in recent elections, including [...] the secrecy of the ballot and family voting.

Recommendation # in final report: 10

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Election Administration

In order to enhance the effective exercise of voting rights, the SEC should develop and implement a comprehensive and nationwide civic and voter education programme, including for voters with various types of disabilities.

Recommendation # in final report: 13

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

The law should provide an opportunity for all persons entitled to vote including persons in healthcare institutions, long-term care facilities and retirement homes to exercise their right. Consideration should also be given to revising the regulation for homebound voting eligibility to enhance participation.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Fully

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The MRT should strengthen its role as public broadcaster by improving the quality of the programmes. It should promote pluralism, provide a broader range of political viewpoints, professionalise journalism, disseminate voter education programmes and increase women's political participation by providing them with greater news coverage.

Recommendation # in final report: 26

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Media

The Law on Permanent and Temporary Residency should be revised to provide consistent definitions of temporary and permanent residency of citizens living in-country and abroad, as well as efficient mechanisms for the MoIA to update the address registry. The legal inconsistencies should be addressed to ensure the accuracy of the voter registration data based on where citizens actually reside.

Recommendation # in final report: 17

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Voter Registration

Broadcast media, especially public, should make further efforts to draw a clear distinction between official government activities of candidates and their campaign appearances.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Media

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Media

It is recommended to lift the residency requirement to be a presidential candidate.

Recommendation # in final report: 2

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Candidate Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2018

Final report heading: Candidate Registration

Existing legislative safeguards in the Electoral Code should be interpreted in a way to prevent potential conflicts of interest between executive government positions requiring neutrality and candidates pursuing political advantage. Such provisions should be expanded to include enforcement mechanisms.

Recommendation # in final report: 7

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

The 40 per cent turnout requirement for the second round could be reconsidered and removed since it has the potential to lead to cycles of failed elections.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2018

Final report heading: Legal Framework and Electoral System

Consideration could be given to review the threshold for the out-of-country voting district in order to ensure parliamentary representation of these voters. This could be correlated proportionally to the turnout, as is the case for the in-country voters.

Recommendation # in final report: 9

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Electoral System

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Electoral System

Any instances and allegations of pressure and intimidation should be thoroughly and effectively investigated and prosecuted by authorities in a timely manner. Authorities and political parties should consider more resolute steps to ensure that pressure is not applied on public-sector employees, political activists and other citizens to attend campaign events or vote in a particular way.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2020

Final report heading: Campaign

To improve MECs and EBs capacity and to ensure consistent conduct of elections, the SEC should provide timely and uniform trainings, in particular, on completing result protocols.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Mostly

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Election Administration

Political parties and candidates, especially presidential candidates, could make greater efforts to explain their policies and reach out to voters of ethnic communities other than their own.

Recommendation # in final report: 14

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Campaign

It is recommended that political parties and relevant institutions take initiatives to encourage the participation of women in the electoral process and in political decision-making.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Campaign

Secondary thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign

The complaints procedure would benefit from an overall review in order to eliminate inconsistencies, gaps and deficiencies and provide effective legal redress. In particular, the law should grant every voter a right to file a complaint on every stage of the electoral process, provide the right of judicial appeal to all SEC, SAO and SCPC decisions, and define reasonable deadlines for the courts to decide on these cases.

Recommendation # in final report: 6

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

In order to increase confidence in the complaints and appeals system, investigation of electoral offences by police and prosecutors should be carried out in an unbiased and timely fashion to ensure its due process.

Recommendation # in final report: 23

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Not implemented

Year of assessment: 2019

Final report heading: Complaints and Appeals

A thorough audit and revision of the voter lists is long overdue. This could result in much improved lists, by removing duplicate entries and entries of deceased persons and addressing other remaining deficiencies, including the problem of citizens outside the country whose names are not marked as such on the voter lists. A crucial step to build broad public confidence in the quality of the lists would be for the procedures to be used during the revision to be discussed and broadly agreed in a public process among election stakeholders, including especially political parties.

Recommendation # in final report: 11

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Voter Registration

The effective administration of elections would benefit greatly from the adoption of comprehensive regulations to guide the election process and to compensate for any gaps or inconsistencies in the Electoral Code. In particular, regulations ideally would include clear, practical and detailed instructions concerning EB procedures for opening, voting, counting, filling in the results protocols, and particularly reconciliation of the numbers on the protocols. In addition, regulations could provide practical and detailed instructions for the election day work of the MECs, including handover, verification and reconciliation of results protocols, instructions for recounts, and clear instructions for the computerization of EB results. The SEC Handbook, likewise, would be much improved if it were structured in clear and straightforward language and did not simply repeat provisions of the Electoral Code.

Recommendation # in final report: 8

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Administration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Election Administration

The division of tasks and responsibilities for maintenance of the voter register should be clarified and enforced, and the deadlines for updates reviewed, to ensure inclusiveness and accuracy.

Recommendation # in final report: 12

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Voter Registration

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Voter Registration

[Further efforts to prevent irregularities such as family voting, proxy voting, one person assisting more than two voters, and the use of mobile phones or cameras for taking pictures of marked ballots.] The Electoral Code and/or SEC regulations should clearly stipulate the sanctions applicable, both for voters and EB members, future training for EB members should include addressing such irregularities in further detail, and public awareness raising campaigns should be continued.

Recommendation # in final report: 22

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Election Day

Secondary thematic area: Legal Framework

Type of change required: Legal

Status of implementation: Mostly

Final report heading: Voting, Counting, Tabulation and Announcement of Results

Further efforts by election management bodies, political parties and civil society organizations will be necessary in order to end the practice of family voting.

Recommendation # in final report: 25

Type of recommendation: Other

Thematic area: Participation of Women

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Final report heading: Participation of Women

All instances and allegations of pressure, intimidation, vote-buying and misuse of administrative resources should be thoroughly and effectively investigated and prosecuted by authorities in a timely manner. There should also be civic education aimed at alleviation of corrupt activities in election campaigns with input from respective agencies.

Recommendation # in final report: 5

Type of recommendation: Priority

Thematic area: Campaign

Type of change required: Practice

Status of implementation: Partially

Year of assessment: 2021

Final report heading: Campaign Environment