DILI, TIMOR-LESTE – The United States – through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its civil society partners – is providing support for close to 1,000 domestic and international observers spread across Timor-Leste to monitor parliamentary Election Day activities on July 22.

USAID’s Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) will field 21 international observers under the supervision of its partner, the International Republican Institute (IRI).  Observatorio da Igreja Para os Assuntos Sociais (OIPAS), a Timorese non-governmental organization funded by CEPPS partner the National Democratic Institute (NDI), will field nearly 930 domestic election observers (at least one in every polling center in the country).  A third CEPPS partner, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), has been working with elections management bodies to improve the voting process.

“The United States is proud to support our partners in local government, civil society, and international organizations in promoting democracy in Timor-Leste,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Karen Stanton.  “We encourage all citizens to help ensure a free and credible electoral process that benefits everyone.”

IRI’s team of international observers arrived this week, but two long-term observers have been in Timor-Leste since June 2017 monitoring the campaigns across the country.  IRI and NDI observers receive training in election observation as well as pre-Election Day briefings from major parties and election management bodies.  The IRI observation team includes IRI board members, a former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank, communications professionals, members of Australia’s Liberal Party, and IRI senior staff.

###