AEGEE Election Observation invites young people (aged between 18 and 35 years old) from all over Europe to apply as Short-Term Observers for our upcoming Election Observation Mission to Hungary.
Roma and Sinti candidates are especially encouraged to apply as full funding for participation in the Mission has been made available by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for two Roma and/or Sinti Short-Term Observers (see below for details).
The mission will run from 4 to 10 April 2018 and will be deployed in various urban locations throughout Hungary. Its purpose will be to specifically assess the participation of youth in the electoral process.
As Short-Term Observers of the AEGEE Election Observation Mission to Hungary, successful applicants will receive training, complete specific research assignments, and then follow the voting, counting and tabulation procedures in various locations throughout the country on the day of the election. They will further meet with local, national and international political stakeholders, civil society organisations and youth representatives in Hungary during the days leading to the election.
The observation of elections by independent observers contributes to the transparency of the process and is a valuable instrument of democratic oversight. The findings of the mission will be compiled into a report to be published after deployment and distributed amongst relevant authorities.
Mission Programme
Prior to the arrival in Hungary, observers will be required to:
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take an election observation training on the principles and methods of international election observation, as specified at the ODIHR online learning platform;
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sign a pledge to adhere to the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers
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conduct background research on a specific topic related to the participation, involvement and engagement of youth in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary.
In Budapest, observers will:
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take part in a briefing on the political situation of the country;
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attend various meetings with local officials, political stakeholders, experts, scholars and civil society representatives, and in particular, with youth organisations and youth activists in the country.
On 7 April, observers will:
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be deployed to different locations in Hungary;
On 8 April (Election Day), observers will:
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visit a number of polling stations to observe the opening, voting and closing processes throughout the day, as well as the counting and tabulation processes later that evening.
On the day following Election Day, observers will:
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return to Budapest to attend a debriefing, and discuss and summarise the findings of observations conducted with other observers and the Mission Coordinators.
Requirements
To become an international Short-Term Observer for AEGEE Election Observation, an applicant must:
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be between 18 and 35 years old;
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have a solid command of English;
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be available from mid-February to participate in an online training course on election observation and to conduct background research on the political situation of Hungary as concerns youth;
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be fully available to travel to Hungary and attend the entire deployment from 4 to 10 April 2018;
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be able to cover own costs* (except funded positions);
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hold no citizenship of Hungary**,
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Either hold citizenship of or be a legal resident in a European country (understood as Council of Europe (CoE) Member States, or any other states or areas fully surrounded by CoE Member States, such as Belarus and others)
Please be advised that visa invitation letters can be issued for AEGEE members only.
Experience from participating in election monitoring in the applicant’s home country, in a political party or in non-governmental organisations is desirable, but not required.
AEGEE membership is a secondary criterion to be considered in case of doubt between otherwise equal applicants.
Other skills, education or experience related to Hungary, democracy systems or election observation are considered an asset.
Funding for Roma and Sinti observers
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) will fully fund the travel costs of two Roma and/or Sinti Short-Term Observers invited to join the AEGEE Election Observation Mission to Hungary. The funding will cover travel tickets from home to Budapest and onward to area of deployment, as well as a per diem for accommodation, meals, and incidental expenses.
Please note that OSCE/ODIHR will solely be funding the participation of the two young Roma and/or Sinti observers, and this does not constitute any further OSCE/ODIHR involvement in or endorsement of the AEGEE Election Observation Mission. The funded observers will represent AEGEE Election Observation, and bear no affiliation to OSCE/ODIHR.
If you meet the eligibility requirements and are Roma or Sinti, your application is particularly encouraged. To apply for the funding opportunity, please select the respective option on the application form.
Application procedure
Apply here by 25 February 2018, 23:59 CET.
For any further queries, please contact our coordinator Noemi Arcidiacono at noemi.arcidiacono@aegee.org.
AEGEE Election Observation looks forward to your application!
*AEGEE Election Observation is a volunteering and non-profit initiative. We aim to raise funds for the project and its upcoming missions. However, at present we cannot guarantee that any funds will be available to cover expenses and/or provide any financial assistance, with the important exception of the OSCE/ODIHR funding for Roma and Sinti observers. While no guarantee can be made, the Mission will endeavour to identify gratis or low-cost accommodation options in areas of deployment.
**Please note that Hungarian nationals are not eligible to apply as international election observers for this mission. However, in specific locations we will be looking for local coordinators and interpreters. If you are a Hungarian national interested in assisting our observers on Election Day, please be in touch with us.