Election Observation

none

Contact hours with teacher:

- participation in lectures - 20 hrs

- consultations- 4 hrs

Self-study hours:

- preparation for lectures - 5 hrs

- writing an essay - 7 hrs

- reading literature- 10 hrs

- preparation for test- 4 hrs

Altogether: 50 hrs (2 ECTS)

Student

W1: has advanced knowledge of election observation,

W2: possesses knowledge about international standards for democratic elections,

W3: is familiar with structure of Election Observation Mission.

W4: in-depth knowledge of the specificities of legal relations between electoral actors at national and international scale

Student:

U1: is able to correctly interpret and explain legal issues concering elections

is able to confront domestic electoral law with international standards,

U2: has basic skills in observing vote count and tabulation,

U3: can analyze reports and media briefings concerning election process.

Student:

K1: understands the significance of the final report of EOM for potential improvement of electoral process,

K2: is aware of observers Code of Conduct significance for ensuring independent and impartial observation.

K3: awareness of one's own knowledge and skills and of the need to educate and set directions for one's own development as an active observer

Lecture will be hold based on expository teaching methods:

- informative lecture,

- problem-based lecture.

- informative (conventional) lecture
- problem-based lecture

Lecture gives the basis for the planning, deployment and implementation of an election observation mission (EOM). It elaborates the process by which elections are assessed for their compliance with international standards for democratic elections and national legislation, as well as Organization’s election-related commitments eg. OSCE.

Lecture program includes the following topics:

1.Backgroungd of International Election Observation (1,5h)

2. International Standards for Democratic Elections (4 h)

3. Election Observation Mission – structure (2 h)

4. LTO’s and STO’s – role and duties in EOM (4 h)

5. Code of Conduct (2 h)

6. Election Day (1,5 h)

7. Vote Count and Tabulation (1,5 h)

8. Final Report (1,5 h)

9. Domestic Observation (2 h)

Lecture gives the basis for the planning, deployment and implementation of and follow-up to an election observation mission (EOM). Further, it:

-elaborates the process by which elections are assessed for their compliance with international standards for democratic elections and national legislation, as well as Organization’s election-related commitments eg. OSCE,

- gives an overview of shorth and long term observers tasks,

- shows the importance of observers code of conduct,

- introduce to domestic observation with emphasis on Polish Electoral Code regulations.

1. Election Observation Handbook Sixth edition. (OSCE/ODHIR), Warszawa 2010, https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/68439?download=true

2. Handbook for European Union Election observation third edition, Brussels 2016; https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/handbook_for_eu_eom_2016.pdf

3. Kelley, Judith G., Monitoring Democracy : When International Election Observation Works, and Why It Often Fails, Princeton 2012

Assessment methods:

np.

- test – W1, W2, W3, W4, U1, U2, U3

- activity- written essay – U1, K1, K2, K3

Assessment criteria:

Final mark is an average from test result and essay grade.

Test consists of 10 closed (check mainly knowledge) for one point each and 2 open questions (checks knowledge and skills) 0-3 points for each.

fail- 0-8 pts (50%)

satisfactory- 9 pts (56%)

satisfactory plus- 10 pts (62%)

good – 11-12 pts (75%)

good plus- 13-14 pts (87,5%)

very good- 15-16 pts (100%)

Essay grade depends on sources and literature, quality of findings and conclusions as well as linguistic correctness.

not applicable