Elections Voters find their names on the voters list for Montenegro’s early parliamentary elections in Golubovci, outside Podgorica, 14 October 2012. (OSCE/Thomas Rymer) access to media. In consequence this not only violates their respective right to convey their messages to the electorate on equal footing, but restricts voters’ opportunities to make an informed choice. State-controlled and public media have a special obligation in this regard. The misuse of state resources: Despite their responsibility, many governments fail to ensure that public funds and administrative resources are not misused to support the campaign of candidates and parties. In several participating States, there is not an adequate framework that ensures an equal playing field for free electoral campaigns. Inaccurate voter registers and insufficient voter registration guidelines and safeguards: 14 ODIHR Annual Report 2012 Participating states have committed themselves to provide every eligible person with the right to vote. However, lack of proper documentation and updating of voter registers, especially in regards to newly eligible voters, deceased citizens or voters who moved within or outside the country, often resulted in eligible voters being denied this right or provided the basis for fraud, contributing to a lack of public trust in election administration and the electoral process in some participating States. Inadequate complaints and appeals procedures: It is important that disputes resulting from electoral contests can be channeled through independent courts of law in an effective and timely manner and that this avenue is available to all stakeholders in an election process. Often, relevant bodies and procedures did not allow for the effective and timely protection of electoral rights at the various stages of the election process, both for voters and contestants. Lack of transparency and accountability during the counting and tabulation of votes: While the OSCE commitments require that votes are counted and reported honestly and that official results are made public, sometimes fraudulent procedures have been observed during the counting of votes and tabulation of results. Support to OSCE field operations ODIHR continued to actively support the activities of OSCE field operations in the area of elections by following electoral events (referenda, local elections and byelections), as well as advising on a