Official results should, in any case, be published in the form of detailed tables, thus enabling all interested parties to scrutinize the election results on a polling-station-by-polling-station basis, through intermediate levels, to the level of the national election authority. The tables should also include the number of voters in each polling station who used alternative voting procedures (e.g., mobile voting) in order to enhance transparency and facilitate the identification of possible fraud. The degree of political will exhibited by relevant state actors in elections certainly influences the counting and tabulation procedures. However, fraudulent practices can be reduced if safeguards are employed. The vote-counting process should start immediately after closure of polling and follow an established set of procedures. Each vote should be counted individually, and observers should have access to the process. Results protocols should be compiled and signed immediately after the completion of the count, in the same premises and by those who conducted the count. Preliminary and final election results should be made public and include a detailed breakdown, down to polling-station level. Best practices employed by States include the timely publication of such results on the website of the election administration. 41. Impartial and effective election administrations There are different methods to establish the composition of election administrations. As part of the commitment to ensure transparency and accountability of election processes, an election administration must perform its duties in a politically impartial and administratively effective manner. This could be accomplished by individuals nominated by, or members of, political parties. Care is required to develop qualification criteria and an appointment process that gains the broad support of electoral contestants and the public. Such appointments should be made in a transparent manner, and appointees should be protected from removal or recall, which should occur only on the basis of law. States should ensure that individuals ap- There will be little trust in the election adminispointed to an election administration body re- tration unless there is significant confidence in election commissions. In addition to sufficient ceive the necessary training. Further, the elec- funding, election administration institutions tion administration must at all times conduct must receive state-wide support to enable meetings and make decisions in a manner that them to operate effectively. Their indepenis transparent, professional, ethical, and efficient dence can be enhanced when established on and that is conscious of the public’s interest in, a permanent basis and provided with a regular budgetary allocation. and right to, genuine democratic elections. 42. Effective complaints and appeals process with an independent judiciary Protection of the right to vote and to be elected is considered to be an essential element of a democratic election system. OSCE commitments require the State to protect civil and political rights, which include the protection of electoral rights (Paragraphs 5.9-5.19 of the Copenhagen Document). The election system must provide effective mechanisms and remedies for the protection of electoral rights at all stages, including voter registration, political party and candidate registration, the allocation of state resources and access to the media, campaign activities, and the vote, count, and declaration of results. Complaints and appeals, including proceedings within the election administration and in the courts, must be transparent and accessible by the public. The legal framework should 16 Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation