OSCE/ODIHR final report says Austria’s parliamentary elections professionally administered, recommends greater access to information for citizens, better guarantees for electoral dispute resolution
While concluding that the 15 October 2017 early parliamentary elections in Austria were conducted in an efficient and professional manner, with civil and political rights fully respected, the final report issued by observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 7 February 2018 recommends further improvements in areas including access to information and the resolution of election-related disputes.
The report states that there is a long-standing tradition of well-administered elections in Austria and strong public confidence in the election authorities and the judiciary. It notes, however, a lack of legal guarantees for the timely adjudication of the majority of electoral disputes, and recommends the provision of effective remedies to all citizens and widening the scope of electoral disputes that can be resolved by a judicial body before election day.
The report also recommends that the relevant authorities ensure easy public access to information on all aspects of the electoral process, including to official election-related documents and on meetings of the election administration.
Another recommendation is to safeguard the impartiality of the election administration and prevent potential conflicts of interest by restricting candidates from serving on election boards.
The report also states that current mechanisms regulating campaign finance are insufficient, do not contribute to transparency and lack proportional and effective penalties for violations. Hence, the observers recommend more effective oversight of political finance and campaign expenditures.
The report notes that a number of prior OSCE/ODIHR recommendations have been addressed and affirms the Office’s readiness to support Austria in its efforts to bring electoral legislation and practice in greater compliance with OSCE commitments.