Why ‘Professionalizing’ International Election Observation Might Not be Enough to Ensure Effective Election Observation

International election observation (IEO) is increasingly criticized for not adding much to the credibility of elections.

IEO organizations have been open and receptive to the criticism and have responded by increasingly professionalizing their missions.

This paper provides three options that IEO organizations could consider to increase the effectiveness of IEO missions: (1) to invest even more in domestic election observation; (2) to harness the potential of modern technology; and (3) to mobilize the power of perceptions.

The three options should not be seen as alternatives but as potential low-cost complements to IEO missions.