Posted on 11/05/2004 12:56:41 AM PST by ch.man
Swiss observer says US elections free and fair The Swiss head of the international mission, which monitored the United States presidential election, says the process was for the most part free and fair.
In an interview with swissinfo, Barbara Haering said the mission did, however, uncover a few irregularities.
Haering led a team of more than 90 observers from 34 states under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The team presented their preliminary findings in Washington on Thursday.
Haering is a Social Democratic member of the Swiss House of Representatives, and vice-president of the parliamentary assembly of the OSCE.
swissinfo: Did the elections proceed in a correct manner, or were there problems similar to those of 2000?
Barbara Haering: These elections met most of the requirements demanded by the OSCE. There were problems and irregularities but not many. However, we are critical of the new law [Help America Vote Act] introduced in 2002 . It leaves a lot of room for interpretation and that has to change.
International observers must also be assured free access to all polling stations in all states.
swissinfo: Was that not the case?
B.H.: The problem was that we were invited by the federal government in Washington, which has a law permitting observer missions. But there is no such law at the state level.
Our observers were not allowed into a few polling stations, but we did have sufficient access to all the information we required to do our work.
swissinfo: Your mission has now ended. What did it accomplish?
B.H.: The US is in the middle of a long-term, exhaustive process to reform its electoral system. It was the first time that a national law was dictated to the state governments. The wording of the law introduced two years ago must become more precise, and I’m sure our recommendations will be considered.
swissinfo: What impressed you most about the elections?>
B.H.: The commitment and passion of the campaigners who went door to door soliciting votes right up to the last minute. We can really learn from them in Switzerland.
It also gave me much more insight into the election process than I would have had watching from Switzerland. We usually follow the elections on CNN.
I was also impressed by the calm after the storm. On voting day, the electorate showed a lot of dedication and patience going to the polls and having to wait. Everyone was aware how important the election was for the country and that it was being monitored by the international community.
swissinfo: You’ve taken part in similar missions in eastern Europe. What are the differences?
B.H.: There is a huge difference in regard to the logistics. The problem isn’t access to information, but the amount of information you have to deal with. The main challenge in many eastern European countries is access to information.
I would also like to say that from an emotional point of view, it has been very impressive to observe people in crucial election situations. You realise that people are aware that their votes count.
swissinfo, Jean-Michel Berthoud (translation: Dale Bechtel)
Copyright © Swissinfo / Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG
No. Go away
Oh and I agree the provisional balloting thing must go.
Quote "We usually follow the elections on CNN."
I suppose anything is better than CNN.
But there is just no way 90 observers from a country
you can see across is going to get anything like a
competant view of American Elections.
Well now that we hvae the Swiss approval that our elections were legal...I guess we can move on with life.
LOL, damn I didnt meet any of the Swedish Bikini team when I went and voted.
OSCE observers election day findings
Election day was characterized by very high turnout, resulting in long queues and pressure on poll workers at some polling stations. It seems likely that protracted waiting periods may have deterred or prevented some voters from participating in the election, particularly those who were working on 2 November and were not given time off by their employers. The EOM commends both the patience of voters who waited to cast their vote, in some cases for several hours, and the commitment of poll workers under difficult conditions.
EOM observation reports indicated that the electoral process was orderly and peaceful. While the polls were generally well administered by election officials, observers also noted that poll workers displayed varying levels of knowledge on correct procedures. It was not clear that poll workers had generally received sufficient training to perform their functions.
OSCE observers were granted access to polling stations in a number of states. Access was sometimes limited to specific counties or to specific polling stations within a particular county. In those places where access was granted, OSCE observers noted that the key elements of HAVA were being implemented. There were, however, a number of concerns.
Specifically, there was considerable confusion and varying approaches from one state to another regarding the use of provisional ballots. The prompt release of an authoritative record of the number of provisional ballots cast would contribute to clarity in announcing results. Occasional faults and breakdowns of DRE machines sometimes resulted in delays for voters while election officials sought technical support or advice. Observers also noted that some voters, mostly but not exclusively the elderly, had difficulties with newer voting technologies, necessitating assistance by poll workers.
Some concerns were expressed by observers regarding the secrecy of the vote due to the positioning of the voting machines in polling stations. Political party observers were present in many polling stations, although domestic non-partisan observers often had no legal right to such access.
It would appear that relatively few voters were challenged in the polling stations to confirm their eligibility to vote, despite indications that such challenges would be launched on a large scale. Similarly, the high number of lawyers deployed by each of the major parties does not appear to have led to a significant level of litigation on election day.
The Mission was deployed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. It published its preliminary findings today, based on the work of 92 observers from 34 countries, including 56 parliamentarians.
Phew, I feel so much better knowing that. We have known for 228 years that our form of government is a total failure. I am so proud we finally did it right.
I think overall this is a useful thing, because we can use this interview for ammunition when Michael Moore comes out with a movie in the future that claims the election was rigged. And believe me, he will. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but he will.
...and by the way I would like to send my congratulations to President Bush. I would like to thank you fellow Freepers as well as your great country for having the courage to vote as you did. Let me convey to all of you my deepest respect and friendly feelings.
Thank you for your kind words!
"Everyone was aware how important the election was for the country and that it was being monitored by the international community"
Yup, as I waited in line for 1.5 hours to vote, it was the latter aspect that kept me patient... </sarcasm off>
For what it's worth, I hope the Democrats that demanded international observation of our elections are satisfied now.
I agree. Also ammunition to bomb the ''I wuz dis-enfranchised'' crowd out of the water who have been oddly quiet this election, so far as I've noticed.
Well I read the whole piece and frankly I was touched. Truely our most valuable export and our place in history is tied to the mudane act of people standing in a line waiting to express their choice. It really comes down to that.
Of coure if China ever goes democratic -- can you imagine the lines. This just in - Hueg Wherra has edged ahead of Gyuhj Jimedg 456,583,470 to401,329,438 with two hours til the polls close
Who gives a rat's rearend what the Swiss think or say, anyway?
Thanks Heaven. Now I can sleep nights.
Sorry, they have nice Alps and all, but I couldn't care less how the Swiss feel about our elections.
The whole concept of the Dems asking for third party review of our elections is so offensive, it is beyond comprehension.
It's not really news to *us* but I'm sure it's reassuring and encouraging to nascent democratic systems and challenging to our (self-described) *cough* "betters" *cough* across the seas.
I love that they were overwhelmed by the volume of information available here in America rather than irritated by the lack of information available in parts of Europe (and elsewhere, I'm sure).
Gee, thanks. Your chocolate isn't bad either.
Imagine the United States sending observers to France, to monitor their elections.
F the OSCE.
Are we or aren't we an independent nation? Those folks can go to straight to hell as far as I'm concerned.
All this scrutiny of the United States, and the United Nations is answerable to no one, and they think it is a gift from God. No, strike that, they don't believe in God.
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