Thank you for the information. I wonder, do you have a connection to OSCE? If so, I have a video taken in Pennsylvania during the 2008 Presidential election involving some militant looking characters I’d like you to give them.
1) I worked with them on a number of missions in a number of countries. I have nothing to do with US Mission, nor had anything to do with any of US missions in the past. Currently i am not employed with them, but i might apply for some mission after Christmas. Thus my posts do not reflect opinion of the mission, ODIHR or OSCE. Though as a person who worked and perhaps will work with ODIHR in the future i have good practical understanding, how do they work, and what is their scope of operations in US. Considered these posts as a background information provided by a person, who claims to be related to some EOMs, but not US in particular.
2) I’ve worked with a number of Long Term Observers (LTOs)as well as the core team, that are part of this US mission, although not with all of them.
LTO list (similar to the one presented here) could be found here. http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/94918
Main difference is that no regions are assigned in the public document
Core Team list (experts based in Washington DC) could be found here.
http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/94920
3) As for liberalh8ter’s 2008 videos. It was different mission back then. All reports were officially released back in 2008-9. (All reports are here http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/usa/general_2008)
Now it’s different mission with different mandate and different composition. Your videos might be interesting to them from the perspective of these elections, but facts related to these elections are their scope of observation. Thus i suggest, if you want to reach them to focus on the problems that happen during these elections and this campaign.
4) The preliminary statement is usually released next day after elections. Final report is released in 6-8 weeks after elections, however the observers depart several days after elections (i’m not aware of detailed deployment plan, but usually Core Team stays up to 10-14 days after Eday, LTOs stay up to 4-6 days after Eday). If you have something that is worth their attention, i urge you to contact them ASAP.
5) In their work observers always differ allegations and evidence. Thus in their reports they can rely either on first hand observation, or on credible and verified information from a second hand source. Thus video footage could be taken into consideration, if it is clear, what is going on (and not something, one needs explanations on).
6) Observers don’t follow hotspots in their observation, especially on the election day, but do random observations polling station by polling station. What you see in the deployment plan are their bases. From their bases they travel usually outside of the cities. The purpose is to get statistically relevant picture throughout the country, as following all polling stations in US is impossible. if they follow only hotspots - results will get distorted
7) Observers do not estimate, whether elections were free, fair, democratic, etc. The observe against OSCE commitments, signed by all participating states. (this is an outdated document but it gives you an idea http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/13957)
8) As for my registration. I am not american, and i don’t live in US (i’m sure it is visible from my English). I’ve signed up to speak about things i know - meaning Election Observation Mission, as i see, that topic has become quite speculative. Thus my political preferences in my own country is of no importance here. I just want to help understanding, what are those observers about.