The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) is pleased to invite you to its online workshop on 19 July 2023 on the topic "Towards European Elections 2024: Frameworks for engaging youth in election observation".

Please register using this link.

Youth engagement in citizen election observation is of paramount importance for the promotion of inclusive and vibrant democracies especially in our current times where democratic rights cannot be taken for granted. As young people represent a significant portion of the population, their active participation in monitoring electoral processes brings fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and energy to the field.

By involving young citizens in election observation, we empower them to contribute to the integrity and transparency of elections, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards democratic governance. Youth engagement also helps bridge the generational gap, ensuring that diverse voices and experiences are represented in the monitoring and evaluation of electoral processes. Moreover, by equipping young people with the necessary knowledge and skills, we cultivate a culture of civic engagement and democratic participation that can have a lasting impact on the future of our societies.

Given the direct linkage of strengthened citizen monitoring as a means to increase youth participation in elections and political life, there is great importance of enshrining a clear status for citizen election observation across the EU.

But how to empower youth engagement in election observation and what are the necessary frameworks for this?

The present workshop aims at providing ideas, tools and existing good practices to youth organisations for engaging their constituencies and members in election observation. Open to all youth and student organisations, it should be of particular interest to those who plan activities and actions for the upcoming national and/or European elections and are looking for inspiration.  Participants are expected to actively contribute to the discussions, as peer exchanges of challenges and success are experienced as a major source of inspiration and learning. Therefore, attendance is limited to 40, with a maximum of two participants per organisation.

Please register using this link. The registration deadline is 16 July 2023.

The workshop is organised by the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) under the European voters - together for electoral integrity project and will look into some of the project findings published recently in the Active Citizenship for Vibrant Democracy report.

For further information, please consult the programme. For questions about the workshop, please contact EPDE at moessinger@european-exchange.org.

Programme

17:00 Welcome and introductions

17:10 The legal frameworks for youth engagement in citizen election observation

• Sławomir Szyszka, Election analyst, researcher, and observer for the EU, EPDE, FSM, IRI, OSCE, International IDEA and Batory Foundation, Co-author of the EPDE study Active Citizens for a Vibrant Democracy

17:30 Panel discussion on organising youth engagement in citizen election observation

• Noemi Arcidiacono, President, AGORA Election Observation
• Sylwester Oracz, Political Finance and Campaigns Expert, Youth Engagement Coordinator, Political Accountability Foundation (Poland)
• Amanda Valentin, Co-founder, VOS Valobservation i Sverige (Sweden)

Moderated by Kira Mössinger, Program Manager, EPDE

18:15 Breakout group session

18:45 Reporting back

19:00 Closing of the workshop

This webinar is part of the project “European voters - together for electoral integrity” and funded by the European Union as part of the Europe for Citizens (EfC) programme.

Project partners:

• Germany: European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE)
• Poland: Political Accountability Foundation
• Hungary: Unhack Democracy
• Romania: Expert Forum (EFOR)
• Lithuania: International Elections Study Center (IESC)
• Sweden: Swedish International Liberal Centre (SILC)
• Slovakia: MEMO 98