In the context of the approaching presidential and parliamentary elections this year, the VotCorect Coalition, formed by civic organizations engaged in the defense of democracy and human rights, is launching the registration campaign for independent observers.
Observers must not be politically involved PHOTO archive The truth
The coalition is made up of experienced organizations: Expert Forum (Bucharest), Civic Association (Iași), Rădăutiul Civic Association (Suceava), Center for the Study of Democracy (Cluj-Napoca), Center for Civic Resources (Constanța) and the Electoral Observatory, which mobilizes resources and expertise nationally and abroad to accredit observers who will play a key role in election monitoring. Code for Romania develops the Vote Monitor application, which organizations have been using for several years to collect data from observers in real time, on election days.
Who are the observers and how do those interested sign up
The observer is a citizen with the right to vote, a volunteer, who does not belong to any political party. Its role is to monitor the fairness of the electoral process in the polling stations, without directly intervening in the conduct of electoral operations. Persons wishing to register as an observer must not be actively involved in the electoral campaign of a party or candidate in these elections. The coalition has a Code of Conduct that details the principles by which an observer is guided. The activity of an observer is also incompatible with that of a candidate (even independent), a delegate from a political party, a computer operator or a member of an electoral office.
Registering as an observer is done exclusively online, through the observatori.votcorrect.ro platform. Those interested will fill out a form in which they will provide the data necessary for accreditation. The form includes questions that help us organize the observation process more effectively. The Vot Correct team will check each profile individually before granting accreditation.
“The activity is not remunerated, but is based on volunteering. But we make sure our observers are prepared and informed to face the challenges of polling days. We provide training and materials necessary for the successful completion of all tasks (such as an Observer Manual) and electoral assistance, including through a call center that will operate throughout election days. Each observer will complete observation sheets through the Vote Monitor application, through which we collect data related to election days, but also alerts related to possible irregularities”say the Vot Correct team representatives.
What is the registration period?
The registration period is open starting Thursday, October 3, 2024 and ends as follows: for the first round of the presidential elections – country and abroad: November 15, inclusive; for parliamentarians – home and abroad: November 15, inclusive; for the second round of the presidential elections – country and abroad: November 28 – only if you did not register before the first round of voting. The accreditation for the first round is also valid for the second round of the presidential elections.
Those interested can register for presidential, parliamentary or both types of elections.
In the June 2024 elections, the partners accredited more than 800 observers at home and abroad, who monitored the opening of polling stations, the voting process, the counting of votes and the reporting of results, ensuring that all these stages comply with the law and electoral standards.
“The problems reported by observers allowed us to notify the relevant authorities as quickly as possible. After the voting day, the collected data allows us to draw conclusions about how the elections were organized and publish observation reports, which also include recommendations that contribute to the improvement of future electoral processes. To increase the effectiveness of observation, we meet with political decision-makers and electoral authorities to discuss recommendations and how the way elections can be organized”say the representatives of the coalition.
Observers accredited by the VotCorect coalition are part of a broader effort to protect electoral integrity and promote transparency in the democratic process. The reports and quick reactions related to the elections, published by Expert Forum and partners contributed to the improvement of the electoral legislation, to increase the integrity and transparency of the electoral processes and drew attention to some violations of the electoral legislation and standards.
