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5 months away from elections, OSCE ambassador: Freedom of choice without fear is essential

Politiko 2024-12-11 11:24:25

5 months away from elections, OSCE ambassador: Freedom of choice without fear is

OSCE Ambassador Michel Tarran, speaking today at the conference organized by the Central Election Commission and the OSCE on preventing pressure on voters in elections, emphasized the secrecy of the vote.

In his speech at this roundtable discussion, OSCE Ambassador Michel Tarran also focused on some of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

 'Secrecy of voting, this principle constitutes one of the key commitments of the OSCE participating States according to the Copenhagen Document. The importance of every citizen freely expressing his choice without fear of coercion or reprisal, remains essential for the integrity of elections and the legitimacy of the institutions that emerge from them. The secrecy of voting, is considered one of the important aspects of the freedom of voters as it ensures their protection from the pressures they may face if others learn how they voted. Secrecy should be applied to the entire procedure, mainly for the casting and counting of votes. Addressing ways to eliminate voter control. Pressure discourages voters from exercising their right to vote freely and without fear ,' the ambassador further stated in his speech.

Tarran emphasized that the democratic process is undermined due to the creation of an environment that is not at all friendly to voters.

" Recent experiences and OSCE/ODIHR reports have shown that maintaining the secrecy of voting in Albania faces challenges. The reports point out that the processes are negatively affected by technical and procedural problems with group voting, tensions, and pressures on voters inside and outside the polling station ," he stressed.

Meanwhile, the former secretary of the CEC in Moldova, Alexandru Berlinschi, said that voters should report pressures and violations of the secrecy of the vote.

 ' Making available numbers for voters to report pressures and violations of the secrecy of the vote. Then these violations must be followed up, investigations must be carried out and immediate measures must be taken, whether for individuals or groups, because this is where public trust grows. The authorities in Albania must enable a regular electoral process. In Moldova, for example, in every election that is held, working groups have been set up, such as the police, public agencies, the cyber agency of data protection in Moldova, and the aim is to improve the process.

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