Mandate of nationality observer

In the by-election for national minority self-government representatives, similarly to the rule for general elections, the nominating organization cannot appoint a member to the election committees.

In the by-election for local national minority self-government representatives, the nominating organization is entitled to appoint one observer to the polling station.

Only a voter registered in the central voter registry as a voter of the specific national minority can be an observer.

The following cannot be national minority observers:

• the President of the Republic,
• the Speaker of the National Assembly,
• a Member of Parliament,
• a Deputy Mayor,
• the Notary (chief administrative officer of a municipality),
• professional and contract soldiers, officer cadets, and non-commissioned officer cadets in service with the Hungarian Defence Forces, and volunteer reservist soldiers performing actual service,
• a candidate,
• a member of an election committee, and
• a member of an election office.

National minority nominating organizations fielding a joint candidate are jointly entitled to appoint one observer.

The observer must be notified to the head of the local election office no later than 4:00 PM on the ninth day before the election day. The contact details of the local election offices can be found here.

The notification must include:

• the name of the appointing national minority nominating organization,
• the name and personal identification number of the observer, and
• the designation of the polling station to which the appointment applies.

The local election office will verify the observer's right to vote.

The following representative of the legally registered nominating organization is entitled to notify the observer, i.e., to sign the notification document:

• the legal representative according to the court register of civil organizations,
• a person authorized by the legal representative to make declarations on behalf of the nominating organization on the P4 form used for the organization's notification,
• a person with a private document of full probative force or a public document of authorization given by the persons specified in the previous two points.

The document for notifying the observer must be submitted in paper form and in original, or authenticated with an electronic signature via email or e-paper, to the head of the local election office.

The documents can be submitted to the competent local election office by anyone without authorization.

The national minority observer may be present during the work of the polling station committee, and in this context:

• can monitor the work of the polling station committee,
• cannot influence or disrupt the voting or the work of the polling station committee by any active or suggestive behavior,
• can record their observations in the minutes drawn up on the completion of voting,
• can lodge an objection,
• can sign the sealed ballot box after the closing of the vote,
• is obliged to wear a registration card in the polling station.

The costs associated with the appointment and activities of the observer are borne by the appointing national minority nominating organization.