Election Investigations Guidebook have experience with the U.S. election complaints adjudication and dispute resolution process. To provide additional primary source data, the IFES team developed survey questions for assessing the quality of election investigative processes in select countries. Initially, the research focused on three main areas: (1) rights-based standards; (2) principles for investigators; and (3) successful investigative processes. Drawing on these three research areas, IFES convened a roundtable discussion with senior election law experts and investigators in order to identify key aspects of the electoral investigation process and to create an outline for the publication that would be developed under the project. This was followed by an IFES panel at the American Bar Association’s International Law Section Meeting that focused on “Election Crime and Punishment: The Search for International Standards for Investigations and Prosecution in Election Cases.” Three main findings emerged from these discussions: 1| Investigators must be perceived to be independent and impartial. Electoral claims are threatened by both real and perceived bias. Perceptions of bias arise because of the political nature of election cases and the very real possibility that political actors might attempt to unduly influence investigations. This is particularly relevant for investigators who are accountable to the executive branch. The risk of selective adjudication or abuses of administrative resources is even higher when investigators from the executive branch handle allegations of electoral crimes or violations in which the executive branch may be a defendant. 2| In order to meet tight deadlines for investigation and resolution of allegations of electoral crimes and violations, states should develop and implement streamlined, accelerated systems that protect the due process rights of accused parties. For this purpose, prior to the election, states must establish and make public an effective triage process that ensures that investigators can pursue legitimate claims and quickly dismiss frivolous or clearly unfounded claims. 3| As allegations of electoral crimes and violations emerge, investigators must consider what types of remedies are available for the plaintiffs and the state. Determining the seriousness of the alleged violations, 18

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