The Pacific Islands Forum is sending a six-member election observer group to the Marshall Islands to monitor the national election on November 19th
It is the first time a Forum election observer team has been despatched to any of its United States-affiliated members north of the equator, and the first time in nearly 30 years that an international group has monitored an election in the Marshall Islands.
Our correspondent in Majuro says the team's visit follows a campaign by a women¹s non-government organization, Women United Together Marshall Islands, begun after the 2003 election, which produced extended ballot recounts and the highest number of complaints and court challenges since the Marshall Islands was founded in 1979.
Following the elections, the team will produce a report setting out its observations on the elections and any recommendations for improvement of future elections.
