OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports the State Election Commission to enhance its transparency

On 7 July 2022, as part of its long-term support and in order to support the State Election Commission to address an ODIHR recommendation from the 2020 parliamentary elections, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided live streaming video equipment to the Commission, which will enable the public as well as the media to follow the commissions’ sessions.

Dominique Waag, Head of the Mission said that this donation will increase the Commission’s transparency and enable citizens to view the Election Commission’s meetings live over the internet.  “I commend Commission’s unanimous decision to hold public meetings. I believe that this equipment will improve voters’ confidence and increase public trust in the Commission,” said Ambassador Waag.

Chair of the State Election Commission Nikola Mugoša thanked the Mission for the valuable donation, adding that it will undoubtedly improve the transparency of the Commission’s work. “Opening the Commission’s work to the public has been a long outstanding ODIHR priority recommendation and I am pleased to have been able to finally address it.  With the installation of this equipment, our sessions are open to anyone with just one click and all recorded sessions will be archived and available to citizens,” said Mugoša.

A Survey on public perceptions and confidence in election management bodies commissioned by the Mission in October 2021 found that 87.3 per cent of respondents thought that that if the State Election Commission’s meeting were public, it would build public confidence in its work and the election process.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro works with the State Election Commission and municipal electoral commissions to enhance their institutional capacity to administer elections in line with OSCE and international standards. The Mission also facilitates a dialogue between election management bodies and NGOs to ensure people with disabilities can exercise their right to vote independently and in secret.