With regard the composition and functioning of the lower levels of the election administration (departmental, regional and municipal electoral councils, and polling station boards), it is crucial that the principle of political representation provided-for in the electoral law be applied effectively, in order to ensure equitable representation of government and opposition forces, as well as a genuine balancing of powers. In the Nicaraguan context, this will depend on the CSE as well as the CSJ respecting political parties’ integrity and not arbitrarily removing legal status from their leadership, nor cancelling the party’s registration in a discriminatory manner. Only under these conditions can the second political force have the representation it is entitled to by law, and be enabled to participate in election administration at departmental and municipal levels, as well as in polling stations.