Effective and timely procedures should be specified by law regarding the complaints and appeals process. These should include: Streamlining all the election-related complaints into a single process; Ensuring that the system is transparent and publicly accountable. Voters, parties and other organisations should be able to defend their electoral rights by submitting a complaint or appeal to a clearly identified competent body; Any issue involving criminal liability should be referred through the court system; Complaints and appeals should be responded to within a reasonable and given timeperiod. However adequate time must be allowed for the gathering of information on which the decision will be based; A centralised record of all complaints and appeals, and their outcomes, should be kept. Reports should be regularly produced and made public; Clear information should be provided to the public about the process and how to make a complaint or appeal effectively.