17. The following are examples of elements of the electoral process that should be evaluated, though it may not be feasible to observe/monitor all of them in a specific election: a) the content and implementation of the legal framework, made up of the constitution, laws, treaty obligations and other international commitments, rules and regulations relating to elections; b) the impartiality, transparency and effectiveness of electoral administration and related governmental activities; c) the processes for appointing and retaining members of election management bodies; d) the delimitation of election district boundaries; e) the registration of political parties, candidates and referendum initiatives and their qualification for the ballot; f) the compliance of political parties with legal obligations and other requirements concerning matters such as selection of candidates, campaigning and upholding codes of conduct; g) the procedures relating to political party and candidate financing, campaign spending and oversight of both; h) the incidence of international interference in the electoral process, through proscribed financial contributions to electoral contestants, international media bias or other activities; i) the use of state resources in the electoral context, including their politically impartial applications and their improper use for the electoral advantage of particular political parties, candidates or supporters or opponents of referendum initiatives; j) the application of anti-corruption laws and other safeguards in the electoral context, including protections for “whistleblowers” who expose election related corruption; k) the conduct of security forces and civil servants in administrative matters, such as the issuance of permits and permissions for use of meeting places and locations for peaceful assemblies and campaign activities, such as rallies and marches, as well as the posting of campaign materials; I) the requirements and practices regarding access to the mass communications media for political parties, candidates and supporters or opponents of referendum initiatives; m) the requirements and practices concerning reporting by state controlled, public and private media about political parties, candidates and supporters or opponents of referendum initiatives, including monitoring the amount and quality of coverage of electoral contestants and coverage of issues that are pertinent to voter choices in elections or referenda; 9

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