The “Election Observation: Theory and Practice” project promotes the idea of election observation in Belarus and has a goal to use international experience of conducting elections in Belarus. The project is non-political. It promotes the idea of an independent civic observation in Belarus and involves active Belarusians in observation.
EOTP mission on observation of elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the 5th convocation starts on the first day of early voting, 18 September 2012. During this short-term mission observers will monitor fulfilment of all procedures provided by Belarusian legislation. In accordance with the results, preliminary and final reports will be prepared. “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign is a Belarusian partner of EOTP.
“Every citizen of our country who cares about his own fate and the future of his country may and should exercise control by means of election observation. No matter how actively you are participating in the elections, what your political views are and what part of society you belong to, observation is the universal thing which anyone can take part in”, informs the project’s site.
According to project director Anastasia Matchanka, election observation allows everyone to witness how elections are held in Belarus: “The observation can help to understand the process of functioning of the state, and can also be useful for the whole society. I recommend everyone who is going to observe during this campaign to read the legislation, first of all, the Electoral Code and the relevant resolutions of the Central Election Commission, in order to be prepared and observe in accordance with current rules and procedures”.
The “Election Observation: Theory and Practice” project offers assistance with registration and preparation for observation. If you require some, you are asked to fill in an electronic application.
The project also provides information on the ways to register as an observer. There are two main ways for this:
1. The easiest way to register as an observer is to be nominated by citizens. This method provides the full independence of the observer. It is very convenient as one can observe close to home – at the polling station, where he usually votes.
The only restriction is that one can collect signatures only from the citizens living in a certain electoral district or polling station – i.e. from neighbours. This method is useful if you want to observe at the polling station where you are registered as a voter.
2. You can also observe if political parties, public associations, and colleagues at work nominate you. The nomination procedure in the above-mentioned cases is quite similar, so they are grouped together.
“From our experience we have learned that observation is extremely useful for the society, and it brings positive experience”, Matchanka says. “We would be happy if as many people with active civil stand as possible join us”.
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The Election Observation: Theory and Practice Project (EOTP) was launched in 2007 at the initiative of the students of European Humanities University. Today, EOTP is jointly implemented by the Belarus Watch, European Humanities University and Belarusian Human Rights House in exile in Vilnius.
The project provides young Belarusians with analytical and critical framework for evaluation of political processes and offers a unique opportunity to learn about the experience of independent observers from Belarus and to gain practical skills via actual observation of elections in the neighboring countries. The format of the project allows combining the expertise of prominent political scientists, experience of active observers and the work and efforts by highly motivated participants to improve the situation in the country. Participation in the project of Lithuanian, Norwegian and Swedish students is beneficial for the multicultural nature of the project activities.
As of September 2012, fifteen observation missions were already held within the above framework: in Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Russia and other countries. Moreover, the election observation project was sending young observers at the polling stations during Belarusian presidential and local elections in 2010.
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