Election observing for the public referendum

Landskjörstjórn (The National Electoral Commission) has issued authorizations for election observation during the referendum pursuant to Article 138 of the Election Act. The British organization Democracy Volunteers will conduct election observation for the second consecutive election, having previously participated in observing the municipal elections held on 16 May of this year.

In addition, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has announced that its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will deploy a team of experts to Iceland in connection with the referendum.

In July, an assessment mission visited Iceland to evaluate the preparations and overall framework for the referendum. Following this preliminary assessment, ODIHR published a report stating that the institution has a high level of confidence in the Icelandic electoral authorities and their ability to administer the referendum. However, ODIHR identified certain areas that warrant closer examination due to weaknesses in the legal and regulatory framework, particularly regarding campaign finance, activities on social media platforms, and the media environment. The report is available here.

Election observers must notify the electoral commission at the polling station or counting center of their arrival and departure, and they are required to comply with the laws, regulations, and any other instructions and procedural rules in effect at each location. Landskjörstjórn issues special credentials to individuals authorized to conduct election observation, which they must carry while performing their duties. Constituency and municipal electoral commissions will be notified of the authorizations issued for election observation.

Landskjörstjórn welcomes the arrival of the election observers and considers such visits to provide important opportunities for learning and evaluation. The findings of the election observation mission are expected to be made public, and the observation will be conducted in accordance with international standards in this field.