Democratic Election Standards Handbooks and Materials

Throughout the life of the Democratic Election Standards project, practical tools for election observers, such as reporting templates, have been tested and revised for use by election observers. These tools aim to ensure observation activities and the information gathered by observers is more directly linked to relevant human rights obligations defined.  The reporting templates included a general weekly report, a campaign rally report for use when observers attend rallies, an incident report, a case file report for tracking dispute resolution processes, and a pre-election form aimed at summarizing major findings for short-term observer and core staff immediately before election day.

Carter Center Democracy Program staff employed these tools, with advice and guidance from Democratic Election Standards project staff during election observation missions and assessments in Bolivia (December 2009), Cote d'Ivoire (field presence since 2008), Sudan (field presence since 2008), Palestine (assessment mission February-March, 2010) and Guinea (field presence since 2010). In each case, staff was able to learn important information from these missions regarding how to better use and possibly adapt these reporting templates.

All files are PDF and require Adobe Reader to view. Free download available here >

Handbooks

The Carter Center Handbook on Observing Electronic Voting >

Developing a Methodology for Observing Electronic Voting >

Templates

Long Term Observer Weekly Reporting Template >

Campaign Rally Report Template >

Incident Report Template >

Case File Report Template >

Election Day Checklists (Ghana) >

Training Materials for Observers

Short-Term Observer Training Schedule >

Long-Term Observer Training Schedule >

Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers >