10 Years of Democracy Volunteers – Strengthening Elections, Supporting Democracy

This year, Democracy Volunteers celebrates a decade of independent election observation. Since our founding in 2015, we have grown to become Western Europe’s leading election observation organisation, working at home and abroad to improve the quality of elections and to strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.

Over the past ten years, our observers have been on the ground in polling stations, election counts, and campaigns — offering impartial assessments, raising awareness of risks to electoral integrity, and supporting reforms that protect the secrecy and freedom of the vote.

A Decade in Numbers

• 13,658 polling stations observed
• 208,515 voters seen casting their ballot
• The equivalent of 289 full days spent in polling stations
• ‘Family Voting’ identified in 23% of UK polling stations
• Key evidence provided to support the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023
• 15 countries and territories observed, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Isle of Man, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA

Looking Ahead

Our work is far from over. Democracy depends on vigilance, transparency, and trust — and we remain committed to strengthening those foundations. As we move into our second decade, we will continue to train and deploy observers, share impartial evidence, and advocate for the highest standards in democratic practice.

Thank you to everyone — our observers, partners, supporters, and friends — who has been part of our journey so far. Together, we are helping democracy work better for everyone.