Almost half a million people took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, organised by the RSPB, this year. That’s Mass Observation.
The term was invented in 1937 when a group of friends from Cambridge (mostly) asked untrained voluntary observers to record everyday life in Britain. OSCE/ODIHR ask untrained voluntary observers to watch polling and counting stations at elections. Their methodology has evolved since their first observation mission to Albania in 1994.
Observers are given an A4 pad with printed, mostly tick the box, questions on conduct at polling stations (Precinct Election Commissions as they are called) when the PEC opens, as voting takes place, when the PEC closes, the counting of ballot papers and finally the tabulation of the votes at District Election Commissions (DECs). A pair of observers typically will fill out fifteen forms on Election Day. As there were 250 pairs in Ukraine on Sunday that’s a lot of paperwork. It all goes to Warsaw (HQ of ODIHR) and Kiev to be analysed in time for a Preliminary Statement early on Monday afternoon.
The way it is transmitted is like magic. We use electronic pens that transfer the data from the forms, store it and when there is mobile coverage transmit it via a smart ‘phone. It’s not for nothing that it’s called a magic pen.
Here is the Preliminary Statement for the Presidential Election in Ukraine.