International Observer Guide OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission to the Referendum This is not an official ODIHR document 7 November 2004 OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Observation Mission to the Referendum 7 November 2004 Address: Ul. Makedonija 19 e-mail: [email protected] Makosped Building 2nd Floor Tel: (+ 389) (0) 2 32 19820 www.osce.org/odihr/ Fax: (+ 389) (0) 2 32 19830 International Observer Guide November 2004 Contents 1. WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF MISSION ............................................................................................. 4 2. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 5 3. INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION............................................................................................................... 6 3.1 CALENDAR FOR SHORT-TERM OBSERVERS ................................................................................................... 6 3.2 OSCE/ODIHR OBSERVATION MISSION TO THE REFERENDUM CORE TEAM INTERNATIONAL STAFF ........... 8 3.3 OSCE/ODIHR OBSERVATION MISSION TO THE REFERENDUM – LONG TERM OBSERVERS .......................... 9 3.3.1 ROLE OF LONG TERM OBSERVERS (LTO) ..................................................................................................... 9 3.3.2 LTO TEAMS ................................................................................................................................................ 10 4. REFERENDUM OVERVIEW......................................................................................................................... 11 5. THE OSCE OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS.......................... 12 5.1 BACKGROUND TO OSCE AND THE HUMAN DIMENSION.............................................................................. 12 5.1.1 THE COPENHAGEN DOCUMENTS ................................................................................................................. 12 5.2 BACKGROUND TO THE OSCE/ODIHR ........................................................................................................ 13 5.3 OSCE/ODIHR AND OBSERVATION MISSIONS TO REFERENDA ................................................................... 13 6. BASIC INFORMATION FOR SHORT-TERM OBSERVERS: KEY POINTS IN A NUTSHELL........ 14 6.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF STO RESPONSIBILITIES........................................................................................ 14 6.2 ORIENTATION AND BRIEFING ...................................................................................................................... 14 6.3 PERSONAL LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONAL RESOURCES............................................................................... 14 6.4 SAFETY AND SECURITY ............................................................................................................................... 15 7. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR OSCE/ODIHR OBSERVERS......................................................................... 16 7.1 OTHER GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR STOS ................................................................................................... 17 8. OSCE/ODIHR ELECTION OBSERVATION METHODOLOGY ............................................................. 18 8.1 DEALING WITH SITUATIONS DURING THE SHORT-TERM OBSERVATION PROCESS ....................................... 19 8.2 IN CASE OF SERIOUS FRAUD........................................................................................................................ 20 9. POLITICAL BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 21 9.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 21 9.2 POLITICAL SYSTEM ..................................................................................................................................... 21 9.3 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................... 21 9.3.1 From ‘the Macedonian Question’ to Independence............................................................................... 21 9.3.2 Post-Independence Challenges .............................................................................................................. 21 9.3.3 Post-Independence Elections ................................................................................................................. 22 1 OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission to the Referendum International Observer Guide 7 November 2004 Not an official ODIHR document 9.4 POLITICAL BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................... 22 9.4.1 The 2001 Conflict and the ‘Ohrid Agreement’....................................................................................... 22 9.4.2 2002 Parliamentary Elections................................................................................................................ 22 9.4.3 2004 Presidential Elections ................................................................................................................... 23 9.5 BACKGROUND ON MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES.............................................................................................. 24 10. THE 7 NOVEMBER 2004 REFERENDUM .............................................................................................. 26 10.1 POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE CAMPAIGN ON THE REFERENDUM................................................................. 26 10.2 MINORITIES AND THEIR PARTICIPATION...................................................................................................... 27 10.3 PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN......................................................................................................................... 27 11. THE MEDIA SYSTEM AND THE REFERENDUM................................................................................ 28 11.1 MEDIA LANDSCAPE..................................................................................................................................... 28 11.1.2 Electronic media................................................................................................................................ 28 11.1.3 Print media ........................................................................................................................................ 28 11.2 MEDIA REGULATIONS ................................................................................................................................. 29 11.3 LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE REFERENDUM .................................................... 29 11.4 MEDIA MONITORING.................................................................................................................................... 30 12. LEGAL FRAMEWORK.............................................................................................................................. 31 12.1 CRIMES AGAINST ELECTIONS AND VOTING ................................................................................... 32 13. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION .............................................................................................................. 34 13.1 COMPOSITION OF ELECTION COMMISSIONS................................................................................................. 34 13.2 STATE ELECTION COMMISSION (SEC) ........................................................................................................ 35 13.3 MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSIONS (MECS)............................................................................................ 35 13.4 ELECTION BOARDS (EBS) ........................................................................................................................... 35 13.5 OTHER ASPECTS OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ......................................................................................... 36 13.6 SAMPLE BALLOT.................................................................................................................................... 40 14. REFERENDUM PROCEDURES ............................................................................................................... 41 15. DIGEST OF FORMS USED BY ELECTION BODIES ON REFERENDUM DAY ............................. 52 15.1 FORM NUMBER 4 .................................................................................................................................... 52 15.2 FORM NUMBER 5 .................................................................................................................................... 53 15.3 FORM NUMBER 6 .................................................................................................................................... 56 15.4 FORM NUMBER 7 .................................................................................................................................... 57 16. OBSERVATION METHODOLOGY AND ELECTION DAY REPORTING....................................... 59 16.1 SHORT-TERM OBSERVERS (STOS) .............................................................................................................. 59 16.2 DUTIES AND SKILLS OF AN STO.................................................................................................................