Can domestic observers serve as impartial arbiters? Evidence from Zambia’s 2021 elections

With international election observation subject to increasing criticism, this article evaluates how effectively domestic observers can play the role of impartial arbiters relative to their international counterparts. It reviews academic arguments about the strengths and weaknesses of domestic and international observers, with a focus on 1) their methodologies, resources, and reporting practices; and 2) their credibility. It presents a case study of Zambia’s 2021 elections, detailing the major observation missions and their activities. It then compares the media coverage and popular perceptions of domestic and international observers, showing that many Zambian citizens still have reservations about the partiality of domestic election observation initiatives. The article concludes by theorizing the conditions in which domestic election observation can 1) provide impartial evaluations of election conduct; and 2) be perceived as trustworthy sources of these evaluations.