Training


We do not have our own training materials at the moment, but can offer guidance to Candidates and their agents fulfilling an election observation role as Partisan Observers. The primary consideration is to do nothing that could disrupt an election or delay voters, work with local electoral services and follow their directions. 

Candidates and their agents could follow this advice:

Our forms will have a procedure to follow listed at the top of each form.


While the Partisan Observers organisation operates outside the of system of UN aligned election observation organisations,  their training may help develop a broader understanding of matters electoral. I can  recommend  the OSCE's online training for short and long term observers: https://www.osce.org/odihr/e-learning-course-for-election-observers. It takes around 10 hours to complete and is free of charge.  It covers their legal framework and the roles of Short and Long Term Observers. If you pass the quizzes you will receive a PDF certificate. 

If you do complete the OSCE's course and wish to work with us, please send your PDF certificate and screen shots if your overall score and the score for each module, to pepe@partisanobservers.org. This will help us assign roles and plan your development in the role of an election observer.


The European Union's Election Observation and Democracy Support (EODS) unit offer three online courses: Safety and Security, Short Term Observers and Long Time Observers.  The courses are here:  https://www.eods.eu/posts/elearning. All courses are free of charge and the STO course may be taken using a guest account. 

EU EODS STO Course: 

Module 1.  The EU and Election Observation

Module 2. Basic Principles of Election Observation

Module 3. Structure and Functioning of an EOM

Module 4:  Practicalities of STO Life

Module 5. Election Day Observation

Module 6. Reporting your Findings

Certificate of completion



If you'd rather read a book, their Handbook of European Union Election Observation (222 pages) covers the same ground:  https://www.eods.eu/library/EUEOM_Handbook_2016.pdf.  Pages 175 to 178 cover polling stations and the count.