"Election observers wear identifying vests or tshirts; carry clipboards, not weapons; and rely upon training in both social science research methods and computer science to present a final analysis of the electoral process to the host country’s government," said Lincoln of the role.

Lincoln was invited by the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) to participate with more than 65 other observers from 20 countries in the Ecuador elections. The purpose of the mission was to observe the administration of the elections throughout the country and to report compliance with international standards of “impartial, transparent, and reliable” election processes.

Lincoln has participated in 13 election observer missions, including eight with former President Jimmy Carter. She first served as an observer in Panama in 1989 when she was the Associate Director for the Latin American Program at the Carter Center.