Election Investigations Guidebook dence required to objectively determine the factual basis of allegations.”7 This includes obtaining documents and other information, interviewing witnesses and recording their testimony, evaluating the evidence, and developing findings and recommendations. Finally, in the reporting stage, investigators deliver their findings and conclusions to relevant authorities. These stages are encapsulated in the figure below and are further detailed in subsequent sections. Figure 2: Basic scheme of an election investigation Receipt of complaint or suo moto decision to investigate Triage and preliminary assessment Dismissal / summary judgment Initiation of full investigation Final investigation report Receipt of Complaint As illustrated in the graphic above, an investigation may be triggered by the receipt of a complaint by a stakeholder with legal standing, or an authorized institution may become aware of a potential violation and make a suo motu decision (taking action on its own accord or own motion) to investigate the issues without the need for a complaint being filed. Both triggers for investigation are important. The level of formality required in the complaint submission process varies from country to country. Some countries require specific forms to be submitted, while others accept complaints in almost any form. Some investigative or election dispute resolution bodies require that a written complaint be completed on a standardized form, while others allow complaints to be filed by email, through a website, or by phone. In Sri Lanka, the Election Commission accepted complaints filed anonymously for the 2015 elections due to the lack of trust and fear of retaliation that has persisted since the civil war. While this provision protects complainants and allows legitimate complaints to be filed without fear, the investigators could face potential challenges in 7 24 Id. ¶ 8.2.