Domestic Observers can help greatly to spread undersatnding of the electoral process and to increase confidence in the community. Liason with NGOs and Domestic Observers is dealt with in more detail in see Liaison with NGOs, observer groups . Observer work has developed greatly over the last 20 years and the sophisticated processes now followed bear little resemblance to the original activity. Election observation is not a product in itself - there is invariably a report back to the sponsoring government or organisation and these reports are normally widely publicised. Election observation has been a growth industry and the process has attracted some criticism.
Many governments see election observation as important and it is a well funded activity.
Anyone who has observed elections will recognise many of the comments - there is reference to too many groups many of whom do amateurish work, the rush to hold press conferences and give opinions, the mass of observers who rent every vehicle and interpreter available, the disproportionate attention to the voting process itself and the lack of objective assessment of the pre and post election activities and the lack of impartiality of some observers. The report highlights the need to reduce the number of International Election Observation Groups. Simplifying everything about a complex process to the point where an evaluation is made that an election is or is not free and fair may not be particularly objective or helpful. A more considered report setting the election in context to emerging social and political issues and commenting on the various parts of the process may be more objective. Evaluating whether the conditions existed for voters to express their will freely is another way of summarising the role of the observer.