Monitoring the monitors: How certifying international electoral observation quality can improveelection fraud deterrence1

Matías Caro

doi:10.22529/

Autores

Matías Caro Universidad Católica de Córdoba https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8798-0459

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22529/

Palavras-chave:

election fraud, international electoral observation missions, fraud deterrence, democracy promotion, quality certification

Resumo

Electoral fraud is a widespread crime whose ramifications affect human rights, democracy and political accountability. Numerous election observation missions have been organised since the 1960s to prevent electoral fraud. Despite the missions’ systematic improvement, and its many benefits, the decentralised nature of election observation has led to the coexistence of professional and non-professional or pseudo-observation missions. These unprofessional missions evade best practices and dilute the preventive potential of proper missions. This work examine how international election observation can be improved to removing incentives for non-professional missions. After analysing empirical evidence and limitations, this work proposes the establishment of an international mission certification agency to aid in enforcing standards and best practices among observing organisations.

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Biografia do Autor

Matías Caro, Universidad Católica de Córdoba

Catholic University of Cordoba, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Argentina.

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