nology must be perceived by voters as, and in fact be, transparent, verifiable, accountable, reliable, secure, and provide for a recount of the votes. This is also an issue of accountability and any commitment addressing new voting technologies could also require participating States to establish a clear division of responsibilities between vendors, certification agencies and election administrators to fully ensure transparency, accountability and an effective response in case of technological malfunction or failure. Proceedings on complaints and appeals for violations of electoral rights, including within the election administration and in the courts, should be transparent. The legal framework should provide a clear and understandable complaint and appeals process that defines the role and jurisdiction of each level of election commission and court. Procedures for filing and deciding cases should be simple and accessible. Effective remedies for violation of rights must be readily available. Hearings and proceedings on complaints and appeals must be transparent and open to the public and observers. Decisions on complaints and appeals should be written and provide an explanation of the supporting law and facts. A possible additional commitment on transparency could require participating States to ensure that the law provides a simple and clearly defined process, including public hearings, for considering and resolving electoral complaints and appeals in a fully transparent and effective manner, within reasonable time limits established by law. Further, an additional commitment on transparency could address the role of money in political campaigns and provide for regulation of campaign contributions and expenditures. An additional commitment on transparency could require that campaign finance be transparent, requiring full and timely disclosure, before and after elections, of sources and amounts of financial contributions and the types and amounts of campaign expenditures. Election observation directly contributes to transparency and public confidence (See public confidence below). B. Accountability Accountability constitutes a fundamental principle of democratic governance. This is particularly relevant in the electoral process, where it also serves as a counterweight to the potential advantages of incumbency. An additional commitment on accountability, therefore, should recognize that a key element of the commitment is the requirement that all organs and officers of State authority and administration, including among others election administration, police, prosecutors and the judiciary, are accountable for their actions and inactions that affect the achievement of democratic elections. Accountability therefore must extend beyond the primary bodies of election administration. The administration of democratic elections requires a range of State institutions, at all levels of government, to conduct electoral-related activities. This includes institutions at the regional and local levels and not just the national level. Thus, the word “State” must be understood to include regional and local institutions as well. Certain minimum conditions and legal guarantees for candidates and the electorate must be in place as a basis for democratic elections. Parties and candidates must be able to freely Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation 87