Dipendra Kandel Initiative
Election Observation
Election Technology Observation
Observation Methodology
Election Observer Role
Internship Areas and Academic Fields
Election Observation

🗳️ Election Observation

Election observation is a systematic and structured process of monitoring and assessing elections to ensure that they are conducted in a manner that is free, fair, transparent, and credible. This process helps safeguard democratic values, build public trust in electoral outcomes, and encourages continuous improvement in electoral practices by providing impartial and evidence-based assessments.

🎯 Objectives of Election Observation

The core objectives of election observation include verifying the integrity of the electoral process by checking if it complies with national laws and international democratic standards 🧭, enhancing transparency by ensuring openness throughout all stages of the election 👁️, deterring fraud and malpractice by minimizing opportunities for manipulation or intimidation 🚫, and acting as a reform catalyst by providing actionable recommendations for future electoral improvements 🔧.

🕒 Phases of Election Observation

Election observation takes place across three main phases. The pre-election phase 📅 focuses on reviewing the legal framework and electoral institution setup, monitoring voter registration and candidate nominations, analyzing campaign activities and media access, and assessing civic education efforts. The election day phase 🗳️ involves observers physically or remotely monitoring polling station openings, voting procedures, ballot secrecy, voter accessibility, and the counting and transmission of results. Finally, the post-election phase 📈 includes reviewing how election results are tabulated and announced, monitoring complaints, appeals, and judicial proceedings, and observing the peaceful acceptance of results and transfer of power.

🌍 Types of Election Observation

There are several types of election observation tailored to different needs. Regular observation involves traditional monitoring of electoral processes and compliance with established standards. Election technology observation 💻 targets the digital dimension of elections, such as electronic voting machines, cybersecurity of systems, online voter registration, and the monitoring of social media and disinformation campaigns. Long-term observation (LTO) 📆 covers the entire electoral cycle from pre-election preparations through post-election activities, while short-term observation (STO) ⏱️ is limited to election day and the immediate surrounding period. Additionally, thematic observation 🧩 concentrates on specific issues like gender inclusion, youth participation, media freedom, or technological impacts.

🔧 Modes of Election Observation

Observation can be conducted through two primary modes. Physical observation 🧍 involves observers being present on the ground at polling stations and electoral events to directly witness procedures and interactions. Remote observation 💻 utilizes digital technologies to monitor elections from a distance, including tracking social media platforms, monitoring digital election systems, and conducting interviews virtually. Both modes complement each other to provide a comprehensive understanding of electoral integrity.

📄 Observation Output

Election observation missions produce several important outputs. Preliminary statements 📝 are typically issued within 24 to 48 hours after election day, providing an initial overview of findings. These are followed by final reports 📚 that offer in-depth, evidence-based analyses and detailed recommendations to improve future elections. Observers also conduct press conferences and briefings 🗣️ to inform the media and stakeholders about their observations. Additionally, infographics and visual reports 📊 are increasingly used to communicate complex findings in an accessible and engaging manner to a wider audience.

Election Technology Observation

💻 Election Technology Observation

Election Technology Observation is the process of monitoring and assessing the use of technology throughout all phases of the electoral cycle to ensure that elections remain secure, transparent, and credible in an increasingly digital environment. As modern elections incorporate electronic voting machines, biometric verification, online voter registration, and digital transmission of results, this form of observation has become essential to protect electoral integrity and public confidence.

🔄 Phases of Election Technology Observation

This observation covers the entire election cycle. In the pre-election phase, observers evaluate the security, accessibility, and transparency of online voter registration systems, digital campaign platforms, and the readiness of technical infrastructure. On election day, the focus shifts to monitoring the proper functioning of electronic voting machines, biometric authentication, and the secure and accurate transmission of results. During the post-election phase, observers review audit trails, system logs, and cybersecurity measures to verify vote counting accuracy and identify any breaches or irregularities.

🔄 Modes of Election Technology Observation

Observation is conducted through two primary modes. Physical observation involves technical experts being present at polling stations, election commission offices, or data centers to inspect electronic equipment and oversee processes firsthand. Remote observation employs digital tools to monitor cybersecurity threats, social media activity, and system performance from a distance, allowing continuous oversight without physical presence.

⏱️ Short Term Election Technology Observation

While Election Technology Observation can span the entire electoral cycle, there is often an emphasis on short-term observation concentrated around election day. This period is critical for detecting technical malfunctions, cyberattacks, or irregularities in voting and result transmission systems that could impact election outcomes. Rapid detection and timely reporting during this phase are vital to safeguarding election integrity.
Observation Methodology

🧪 Observation Methodology

The methodology of Election Technology Observation is a comprehensive framework designed to systematically evaluate the deployment, functionality, and security of technological systems used in elections. It combines both physical and remote monitoring techniques across all phases of the electoral cycle to identify risks, detect irregularities, and ensure the integrity of electronic voting, biometric verification, and digital result transmission. This approach emphasizes technical expertise, real-time data collection, and collaboration with key stakeholders to provide timely, evidence-based assessments and recommendations that support transparent and credible elections in an increasingly digital world.

🔍 Pre-Deployment Assessment

The observation process begins well before election day with a comprehensive review of the entire election technology infrastructure. This includes evaluating electronic voting machines, biometric identification systems, voter registration databases, and result transmission platforms. Observers scrutinize cybersecurity frameworks and protocols to identify any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that could be exploited. This phase ensures that the technology is robust, reliable, and properly prepared to support a secure and transparent election.

🎓 Technical Training of Observers

To effectively monitor complex election technologies, observers undergo specialized training focused on understanding the hardware and software involved in the election process. This training covers how to recognize common technical malfunctions, identify cybersecurity threats such as hacking or data breaches, and detect procedural irregularities. Observers also learn how to use digital monitoring tools, interpret audit logs, and apply forensic techniques, equipping them with the skills necessary for accurate and thorough observation.

🧍 Physical Observation and Inspection

During the election, trained technical experts are deployed physically at critical locations such as polling stations, data centers, and tabulation centers. Their role is to inspect the correct installation, configuration, and operation of all election-related technologies. This hands-on presence enables observers to detect and address technical issues or irregularities in real time, ensuring that technology functions smoothly throughout the voting and counting process.

💻 Remote Monitoring and Digital Forensics

In addition to physical presence, election technology observation uses remote monitoring to provide continuous oversight. Using digital tools, observers track network security to detect cyber intrusions or attempts at system interference. They analyze social media platforms and online information flows for misinformation campaigns or coordinated disinformation efforts. Reviewing system logs, audit trails, and transaction records remotely allows observers to verify data integrity and detect anomalies without being on-site.

📋 Data Collecting and Reporting

Observers collect comprehensive data throughout the election process using standardized checklists and detailed observation forms. They conduct interviews with election officials, IT personnel, and voters to gain qualitative insights into how technologies perform in practice. This collected data is then cross-referenced with historical information from past elections, enabling observers to identify recurring challenges or improvements over time and provide a richer analysis.

 Preliminary Analysis and Immediate Reporting

Prompt communication is critical to addressing any technology-related issues swiftly. Observers compile preliminary findings during and immediately after election day, issuing timely alerts to election authorities about critical technical problems that may affect election integrity. These initial reports are typically published within 24 to 48 hours post-election to inform stakeholders, media, and the public, allowing for quick remedial action if necessary.

📑 Comprehensive Final Reporting

Following a detailed review and analysis, observers prepare comprehensive final reports that combine quantitative data with qualitative observations. These reports present a thorough assessment of election technology performance, security, and transparency. They include evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening future deployments, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and improving overall trust in the electoral process.

Election Observer Role

🗳️ Election Observer Role

Election observers play a critical role in safeguarding the integrity and credibility of elections by monitoring and reporting on the electoral process. Their primary responsibility is to independently and impartially assess whether elections are conducted in accordance with national laws and international standards for free and fair elections.


Observers typically perform the following key functions:

👀 Monitoring Election Procedures

Observers watch over all stages of the election, including voter registration, campaign activities, voting on election day, ballot counting, and results tabulation. They ensure that procedures are followed correctly and that voters can cast ballots freely and without intimidation.

🔍 Assessing Transparency and Integrity

Observers evaluate how openly election activities are conducted, ensuring that all stakeholders, including political party agents and other observers, have access to observe key processes. They look out for fraud, coercion, vote-buying, or any manipulation.

📝 Documenting and Reporting

Observers systematically record their findings using checklists and reports. They report irregularities or violations promptly to mission coordinators and contribute to preliminary statements and comprehensive final reports.

🤝 Engaging with Stakeholders

Observers interact with election officials, political parties, voters, civil society groups, and security personnel to gather information, clarify procedures, and promote confidence in the electoral process.

🤝 Ensuring Voting Rights and Accessibility

They ensure that all voters—including marginalized communities, persons with disabilities, and minorities—have equitable access to polling stations and can exercise their voting rights without discrimination.

✌️ Supporting Peaceful Elections

The presence of observers helps deter electoral fraud and violence. They contribute to maintaining peace by providing neutral monitoring and facilitating conflict de-escalation where necessary.

Internship Areas and Academic Fields

🤖 Technical Internship Areas and Academic Fields

Technological Interns focus on the digital and electronic aspects of elections. Their responsibilities include monitoring electronic voting machines, biometric systems, and digital voter registration platforms. They assist in cybersecurity analysis, remote system monitoring, and the detection of technical malfunctions or cyber threats. Technological Interns also support data analysis related to election technology performance, help track social media for misinformation, and contribute to technical reporting on digital election processes.


🧮 Electronic Voting & System Testing

This intern supports the evaluation and monitoring of electronic voting systems, from hardware checks to software functionality. Tasks may include helping test voting machines before deployment, verifying their setup at polling stations, and reporting any glitches or failures in the field. Interns may also assist in analyzing machine logs and understanding vote encryption and transmission mechanisms. Recommended academic fields: Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Electronics and Communication Engineering.


🔐 Cybersecurity Monitoring

This intern plays a key role in identifying and monitoring cybersecurity risks to election systems. Responsibilities include helping detect intrusions or suspicious digital activity, reviewing firewalls and access logs, and ensuring election infrastructure is protected from tampering or external threats. Interns may also support cyber simulations or work with ethical hacking teams. Recommended academic fields: Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Network Security, Information Technology, Digital Forensics.


🧑‍💻 Data Systems & Database

Interns in this role focus on the integrity of databases used in voter registration, electronic results tabulation, and biometric authentication. They may support backend monitoring of data flows, check for discrepancies or unauthorized access, and assist in data cleaning or auditing. Recommended academic fields: Data Science, Information Systems, Computer Science, Statistics, Database Management.

📊
Digital Audit & Transparency Tools

These interns assist in developing or deploying digital audit tools, dashboards, or monitoring applications to track technology performance and transparency in real time. Their tasks might include configuring real-time monitoring software, managing dashboards, or visualizing voting machine status and transmission timelines. Recommended academic fields: Data Analytics, IT, Software Development, Information Visualization, Web Technologies.

🤖
Biometric Technology

Biometric systems (fingerprint or facial recognition) are often used in voter verification. Interns assist in testing biometric kits, monitoring matching accuracy, identifying system errors, and observing how biometric data is collected and stored. They may also help review data protection compliance. Recommended academic fields: Biomedical Engineering, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, ICT, Biometric Systems.

📱
Remote Monitoring & Mobile Tools

These interns work on tools and systems used for remote observation, including mobile data collection platforms, GPS mapping of polling locations, or communication apps used by field observers. They help configure apps, troubleshoot errors, and analyze data from remote sources. Recommended academic fields: Mobile Application Development, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), GIS & Remote Sensing, Computer Applications.

🧑‍🔧
Technical Field Support

Interns in this role provide hands-on assistance to technical teams during deployments. They help install or maintain devices at polling locations, support troubleshooting during elections, and assist in field-level incident documentation related to tech failures. Recommended academic fields: Electrical Engineering, Hardware and Network Engineering, Technical Support Services, Information Technology.

🧠
AI & Disinformation Detection

These interns work on identifying and flagging misinformation or coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting digital election systems. They use machine learning models or social media scraping tools to track narrative patterns and automated bots. Recommended academic fields: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, NLP (Natural Language Processing), Computational Social Science, Media Informatics.

    🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Non - Technical Internship Roles

    While technical experts handle system diagnostics and cybersecurity, non-technical observers play a crucial complementary role in ensuring that election technologies are applied transparently, fairly, and inclusively. These roles focus on the social, legal, ethical, procedural, and public-facing dimensions of technology in elections. They help ensure the human side of technology—trust, access, and impact—is fully documented and assessed.


    📜 Legal Compliance & Rights-Based Monitoring

    Examine whether the application of election technology complies with national election laws, international standards, and privacy and data protection regulations. Monitor whether voters' rights are respected in the digital systems used. This role focuses on ensuring that election technologies—such as biometric voter registration, electronic voting machines, or digital result systems—comply with existing legal frameworks and uphold fundamental rights like data privacy, freedom of expression, and equal access. Interns may help monitor how technology interacts with constitutional rights and election laws, and whether legal safeguards are effectively enforced. Recommended academic backgrounds include Law, Human Rights, Public Policy, International Relations, and Political Science.


    🧑‍🦼Accessibility & Inclusion Monitoring

    Evaluate whether technological systems are accessible to people with disabilities, senior citizens, rural voters, and language minorities. Check for barriers in biometric devices, digital ballots, or e-registration systems. Interns in this role evaluate how accessible election technology is for voters with disabilities, elderly individuals, rural populations, and linguistic minorities. This includes assessing the user-friendliness of digital interfaces, the physical design of electronic systems, and whether alternative formats (e.g., audio ballots) are provided. Ideal academic fields for this role are Social Work, Disability Studies, Public Health, Development Studies, and Inclusive Education.


    🗣️ Voter Experience Documentation

    Interview voters about their interaction with technology—Was it clear? Was it secure? Was there trust? Collect firsthand perspectives on usability, confidence, and concerns. This role involves collecting direct input from voters about their experience using election technology—whether they found it intuitive, secure, trustworthy, or confusing. Interns conduct interviews, focus groups, and field surveys to document how technology influences voter confidence and behavior. Suitable academic disciplines include Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Communication Studies, and Public Administration.


    🎙️ Stakeholder Engagement

    Gather feedback from election officials, polling staff, civil society groups, political parties, and marginalized groups on how technology affected their role or participation in the electoral process. Interns in this role interact with election officials, polling staff, political party agents, civil society actors, and international partners to gather diverse perspectives on the impact of election technologies. These engagements are vital for understanding both operational realities and stakeholder concerns. Relevant fields of study are International Development, Political Science, Journalism, Public Affairs, and Peace & Conflict Studies.


    📰 Media and Disinformation Monitoring

    Observe traditional and digital media for misinformation or disinformation related to election technology (e.g., rumors of hacked voting machines). Track narratives that influence public trust in digital systems. This role involves tracking news reports, social media activity, and digital platforms to detect false or misleading narratives about election technologies. Interns assess the spread of misinformation, its sources, and its potential to undermine voter trust or incite unrest. Ideal academic backgrounds include Media Studies, Journalism, Digital Communication, Political Communication, and Information Science.


    🧾 Reporting and Documentation

    Assist in writing observation summaries, voter testimonials, and non-technical sections of mission reports. Document logistical issues, procedural delays, or public confusion caused by digital systems. Interns in this role are responsible for drafting non-technical sections of observation reports, writing summaries of field observations, compiling notes from interviews, and supporting the editorial process of mission documentation. Recommended disciplines include English Literature, Writing, Public Policy, Political Science, and Documentation or Archival Studies.


    📢 Public Communication Support

    Translate complex technical findings into easy-to-understand formats like infographics, social media posts, and public briefings. Support the public relations or media team in communicating key findings. This role focuses on translating complex technical observations into simple, accessible formats like infographics, press releases, or social media posts. Interns work with communication teams to inform the public, media, and stakeholders about key findings and recommendations. Relevant academic backgrounds include Strategic Communication, Visual Design, Public Relations, Journalism, and Marketing.


    🧭 Ethics and Impact Evaluation

    Assess whether the use of technology respects democratic values, enhances participation, and avoids reinforcing inequality or exclusion. Identify any ethical concerns related to surveillance, data misuse, or lack of transparency. Interns assess whether the use of election technology aligns with democratic values and ethical principles, including concerns about surveillance, consent, fairness, and the social impact of automation. This role often feeds into the mission’s final evaluation framework. Best-suited academic programs include Philosophy (Ethics), Public Policy, Political Theory, Development Studies, and Human Rights.


    🧩 Thematic Focus Areas Support

    Contribute to specialized reporting on issues like gender and digital access, youth and technology, or how tech affects conflict-prone areas. Assist researchers or thematic experts in focused field assessments. This role allows interns to contribute to focused studies on specific groups or issues, such as gender and technology, youth access, displaced populations, or elections in post-conflict areas. Interns may gather disaggregated data, conduct targeted interviews, or help write thematic sections of the final report. Suggested fields include Gender Studies, Peace & Conflict Studies, Youth Development, Social Policy, and Area Studies.


    📦 Logistical & Coordination Assistance

    Help manage schedules, field assignments, tech distribution tracking (e.g., where EVMs or biometric kits are deployed), and coordination with local contacts for field access and interviews. Interns support the operational backbone of the observation mission by managing travel schedules, field deployments, technology tracking, and communications between observers and local partners. They ensure all moving parts function efficiently. Relevant academic areas include Business Administration, Project Management, Logistics & Supply Chain, Event Management, and Operations Management.

    Election Observation's Impact on SDGs

    SDG 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions:

    Election observation ensures transparent and fair electoral processes, fostering accountable institutions. This directly supports the goal of building peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice, and promoting effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

    SDG 5 - Gender Equality:

    Observers often focus on gender-related issues, advocating for increased participation of women as voters, candidates, and election officials. This supports empowering women and achieving gender equality in political representation and decision-making processes.

    SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities:

    Observers highlight and address disparities in the electoral process, aiming to provide equal opportunities for marginalized groups. By advocating for inclusivity, election observation contributes to reducing inequalities in political participation.

    SDG 4 - Quality Education:

    Monitoring election technology involves educating voters, election officials, and stakeholders about the use and impact of these technologies. This contributes to enhancing digital literacy and education, supporting SDG 4 objectives.

    SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals:

    International collaboration in election observation fosters partnerships among nations, promoting democratic principles, rule of law, and good governance. These collaborations are essential for achieving the SDGs collectively.