Kosovo Election Commission requests check of votes
(OSCE/Chris Cycmanick)OSCE staff tabulate the results of the 2004 Kosovo Assembly Elections at a counting centre in Fushe Kosova/ Kosovo Polje, 24 October 2004. (OSCE/Chris Cycmanick) Photo details
PRISTINA, 29 October 2004 - The Central Election Commission (CEC) today unanimously decided to ask for a general check of all votes cast in polling stations in Kosovo for the 2004 Assembly Election.
"A review of the valid ballots is the most reliable and efficient way to ensure that mistakes, whatever their origin, are eliminated and not reflected in the results," said Ambassador Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Kosovo Mission and Chair of the CEC.
"It shows that the system does not allow discrepancies to go unnoticed, and that remedial action can be taken. When it comes to counting the ballots, no margin of error can be tolerated. Our priority is the integrity of the voting process."
This decision was taken after a number of inaccuracies were found both as a result of complaints filed with the Election Complaints and Appeals Commission (ECAC) and through internal checks made at the Count and Results Centre.
"At the conclusion of this process, all political entities can be fully assured that they will get all the votes which were cast for them on October 23," Ambassador Fieschi said.
The operation is part of the competencies of the Count and Results Centre. Accredited observers are welcome to monitor the process.
The OSCE Mission and ECAC directed CEC to take this decision. Over 660,000 regular valid ballots will be checked during the process by the Count and Results Centre.
A full report will be made on the situation once the results are certified to identify the causes of the errors and the remedies that may be proposed for future elections.
"A review of the valid ballots is the most reliable and efficient way to ensure that mistakes, whatever their origin, are eliminated and not reflected in the results," said Ambassador Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Kosovo Mission and Chair of the CEC.
"It shows that the system does not allow discrepancies to go unnoticed, and that remedial action can be taken. When it comes to counting the ballots, no margin of error can be tolerated. Our priority is the integrity of the voting process."
This decision was taken after a number of inaccuracies were found both as a result of complaints filed with the Election Complaints and Appeals Commission (ECAC) and through internal checks made at the Count and Results Centre.
"At the conclusion of this process, all political entities can be fully assured that they will get all the votes which were cast for them on October 23," Ambassador Fieschi said.
The operation is part of the competencies of the Count and Results Centre. Accredited observers are welcome to monitor the process.
The OSCE Mission and ECAC directed CEC to take this decision. Over 660,000 regular valid ballots will be checked during the process by the Count and Results Centre.
A full report will be made on the situation once the results are certified to identify the causes of the errors and the remedies that may be proposed for future elections.