2.2.4 Regular intervals for elections as provided for by the respective National Constitutions; and 2.2.5 Equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media; 7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBER STATE HOLDING ELECTIONS 2.2.6 Equal opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be voted for; 7.1 Take necessary measures to ensure the scrupulous implementation of the above principles, in accordance with the constitutional processes of the country; 2.2.7 Independence of the Judiciary and impartiality of the electoral institutions; 2.2.8 Voter education; and 2.2.9 Acceptance and respect of the election results by political parties proclaimed to have been free and fair by the competent National Electoral Authorities in accordance with the law of the land. 2.2.10 Challenge of the election results as provided for in the law of the land. And further: 4.1 SADC Member States shall be guided by the following guidelines to determine the nature and scope of election observation: 4.1.1 Constitutional and legal guarantees of freedom and rights of the citizens; 4.1.2 Conducive environment for free, fair and peaceful elections; 4.1.3 Non-discrimination in the voters’ registration; 4.1.4 Existence of updated and accessible voters roll; 4.1.5 Timeous announcement of the election date; 4.1.6 Where applicable, funding of political parties must be transparent and based on agreed threshold in accordance with the laws of the land; 4.1.7 Polling Stations should be in neutral places; 4.1.8 Counting of the votes at polling stations; 4.1.9 Establishment of the mechanism for assisting the planning and deployment of electoral observation missions; and 4.1.10 SADC Election Observation Missions should be deployed at least two weeks before the voting day. 58 7.2 Establish, where none exists, appropriate institutions where issues such as codes of conduct, citizenship, residency, age requirements for eligible voters and compilation of voters’ registers, would be addressed; 7.3 Establish impartial, all-inclusive, competent and accountable national electoral bodies staffed by qualified personnel, as well as competent legal entities including effective constitutional courts to arbitrate in the event of disputes arising from the conduct of elections; 7.4 Safeguard the human and civil liberties of all citizens including the freedom of movement, assembly, association, expression, and campaigning as well as access to the media on the part of all stakeholders, during electoral processes as provided for under 2.2.5 above; 7.5 Take all necessary measures and precautions to prevent the perpetration of fraud, rigging or any other illegal practices throughout the whole electoral process, in order to maintain peace and security; 7.6 Ensure the availability of adequate logistics and resources for carrying out democratic elections; 7.7 Ensure that adequate security is provided to all parties participating in elections; 7.8 Ensure the transparency and integrity of the entire electoral process by facilitating the deployment of representatives of political parties and individual candidates at polling and counting stations and by accrediting national and/other observers/ monitors; 7.9 Encourage the participation of women, disabled and youth in all aspects of the electoral process in accordance with the national laws; 7.10 Issuing invitation by the relevant Electoral Institutions of the country in election to SADC 90 (ninety) days before the voting day in order to allow an adequate preparation for the deployment of the Electoral Observation Mission; 7.11 Ensure freedom of movement of the members of the SEOM within the host country; 59