Adopted on 20 July 2015, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa political party and candidate registration. Therefore, the following aspects should be observed and assessed by the SEOM: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) 13.3 Whether criteria for registration of political parties and candidates is explicitly defined in the laws and transparently executed; The existence of appeal processes and mechanisms upon disqualification of political parties or candidates; The procedures for nomination and provision of reasonable time frames to allow political parties and candidates to comply with the requirements of the registration process; The existence of a Code of Conduct governing all political parties and candidates; The incidence of international interference in the electoral process, through proscribed financial contributions to electoral contestants, or other activities; Funding to political parties for campaigns, and campaign spending are transparent and oversight of both is in accordance to the laws of the land; The use of public assets and funds for electoral campaigns, including impartial application and their improper use for the electoral advantage of particular political parties, candidates or supporters; The application of anti-corruption laws and other safeguards in the electoral context, including protections for those who expose election related corruption; The neutrality of the security forces in providing election security; and the existence of requisite special voting facilities for security forces to enable them cast their votes; The requirements and practices regarding direct and indirect access to the mass media for political parties, candidates, supporters and the general public; 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 quantitative and qualitative coverage of electoral contestants and issues that are pertinent to voter choices in elections or referenda; The ability of political parties, candidates and supporters and opponents of referendum initiatives to campaign freely for the support of prospective voters. Civic and Voter Education Member States agree that civic and voter education are indispensable to democratic consolidation, as they allow for the electorate to make informed choices on who decides on their governance priorities. To this end, SEOMs shall assess: 13.3.1 The capacity and quality of civic and voter education programmes to afford all prospective voters accurate, comprehensible and adequate information upon which to make electoral choices; 13.3.1.1 The adequacy of civic and voter education conducted particularly by state agencies, inter alia, information about where, when, how and why to register and to vote; - 20 -