For the first time in a Swedish election, observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will be present in the country to oversee the vote, according to reports in Swedish media. “This is the first time we have had any form of mission or observation activity in Sweden for an election,” the organization’s spokesperson Thomas Rymer told Sveriges Radio. The decision was made following discussions with politicians, representatives of the Swedish media, and some of those involved in organizing the election.
Before the 2010 vote, a working group was sent to Sweden to evaluate if there was a need for observers during the election that year. They reached the conclusion that this was not necessary, but when a similar evaluation was carried out earlier this year, OSCE decided to send two people to Sweden to monitor the September poll.
One of the observers’ tasks is to take a close look at how the parties’ election campaigns have been financed.
Other issues they will be looking into include making sure there are enough ballot papers for all parties in each voting place, particularly in sparsely populated areas, and that a secret ballot is guaranteed by ensuring the papers are in a spot obstructed from public view.
Full Article: International observers to monitor Swedish election for first time – The Local.
