The eye of the voter

"<< Background >>“Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife” these are the words of John Dewey in the book Democracy and Education published in 1916. Dewey was an American philosopher and educator. Democratic participation is not an abstract concept but a concrete human right. Article 21 of the declaration from 1948 states “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.”Journalists and academic researchers do of course play a central role in the process of creating transparency and holding election committees accountable for qualitative processes. However, both journalists and researchers are very limited if we see them as resources. We need citizens to feel co-ownership of the elections and we need a peer to peer understanding on how elections work.. Election observation is a type of citizen research that can provide researchers and journalists with data from everywhere around the country.With this project, we want to promote the concept of citizens-driven election observation by engaging representatives from groups who in their own country are underrepresented as voters.<< Objectives >>The primary objectives of the ""The Eye of the Voter"" project were to engage young volunteers from Sweden and Italy in supporting domestic election observations during the Polish parliamentary elections of October/November 2023. Strengthening democratic engagement:To promote democratic values and practices by involving European youth in the electoral observation process.Ensuring free and fair elections:By participating in election observation, volunteers were expected to help ensure the integrity of the electoral process, thus contributing to free and fair elections in Poland.Promoting transparency:The project observers joined a bigger group of domestic and international observers who together played a crucial role in fostering transparency by monitoring the elections and reporting any irregularities, thereby holding the electoral process to a standard of accountability.Strengthening European identity:The project aimed to foster a shared European identity and encourage a sense of active European citizenship among the youth. Building capacity and knowledge among young observers:The project sought to equip young observers with the skills and knowledge necessary << Implementation >>The Eye of the voter implemented five work packages all more or less connected to the general elections in Poland 2023Pre-election preparations. Selecting and preparing young people coming from groups with traditionally low voter turnout groups as election observersElection observation event. Bring young individuals from Sweden and Italy to the general elections in Poland.Post-election process that focused on learning and reflection among the participantsPresentation and dissemination, spreading the project results to othersCoordination and general planning << Results >>Key outcomes include:Training of Young Observers: Over 30 volunteers received comprehensive training through sessions in Sweden, Italy, and Poland, and an online workshop in 2024. This training prepared them to effectively monitor elections and contributed to a pool of skilled observers for future events.Development of Training Materials: These materials ensure the sustainability of the training program, equipping future observers with essential skills.Active Election Observation: Observers played a crucial role in the Polish parliamentary elections, monitoring the process and enhancing transparency. Their findings informed assessments of the elections' fairness by local and international stakeholders.Enhanced Engagement: Observers gained a deeper understanding of democracy and expressed a heightened interest in continued participation in democratic processes. This engagement helps foster active citizenship among youth.Pedagogical Improvements: The need for a tailored approach to engage less motivated observers was identified, leading to a proposal for a structured learning module that combines theoretical and practical learning.This project not only fostered skilled election observers but also promoted active engagement."