TUNIS, Tunisia – For the third time this fall, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) will expand its ongoing observation of Tunisia’s electoral process. A total of 45 delegates will be part of the international observation mission to observe the second round of the presidential election on Dec. 21.

NDI launched its election observation effort with the deployment of long-term observers in late June for the voter registration period, and hosted similar delegations of short-term observers for the legislative elections on October 26 and for the first round of the presidential election on Nov. 23.

Among the delegates are Darrell Dexter, former premier of the province of Nova Scotia in Canada; Ken Dryden, former Minister of Social Development in Canada; Zakia Khattabi, member of the Belgian Parliament; and Leslie Campbell, NDI’s Senior Associate and Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Elected representatives, regional specialists, election experts and civil society leaders from 21 countries comprise the delegation.

“Tunisians have arrived at the culmination of what has thus far been a successful electoral process that belongs to each and every Tunisian. On Dec. 21, they will write the last page of this chapter. And the work of observers will once again support this process of transition,” said Nicole Rowsell, NDI’s director in Tunisia.

Before being deployed, observers will receive updates on progress achieved on recommendations presented by the observation mission following the first-round presidential election. Observers will then deploy across the country to meet with local election authorities, candidate representatives, journalists and election observers.

On election day, delegates will visit polling stations to observe voting and counting processes. They will prepare a statement containing the mission’s preliminary findings that will be issued during a press conference on Dec. 22.

NDI has conducted election observation in more than 63 countries around the world. The delegation is conducting its observation in a nonpartisan capacity in accordance with Tunisian law and with the international standards contained in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.

During Tunisia’s current political transition, NDI is leading programs to encourage a competitive and representative political environment where political parties act on behalf of citizens’ interests, and where civil society plays an active role in overseeing the political process. Since 2000, NDI has supported reform-minded Tunisian democrats in their efforts to promote a more inclusive and participatory political environment.

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan nongovernmental organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. More information is available at www.ndi.org

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