Election Investigations Guidebook flict goes beyond the limits of legality, disputes are dealt with based on clear rules, that are developed and known to all actors (after a process of inclusive deliberation and, ideally, consensual or sufficiently widespread support) and enforced by a competent and impartial authority. Furthermore, as a result of addressing electoral disputes according to these rules, a definitive solution is always reached within the current legal framework — even though politically it may leave some actors unsatisfied. This Elections Investigations Guidebook fits precisely in this key pillar of the democratic process of an election. Built on the basis of an extensive analysis of documentary and empirical evidence, including consultation with experts, gathered over several decades, but also generated specifically for this Guide, IFES has delivered with this document a work that has the double attribute of being detailed and comprehensive, but also simple and accessible. This Guidebook brings together a vast amount of research and analysis regarding the practices and norms of a wide variety of countries in relation to the investigation processes to address and settle electoral disputes. The challenge is enormous if one considers the scant research that exists on the subject and the diversity of legal approaches and norms that abound in the matter around the world. While addressing detailed and complex issues in this Elections Investigations Guidebook, IFES also decided that the breadth of the effort would not detract them from reaching out to those who can best use it, the practitioners and investigators of electoral disputes. As its name implies, this Guidebook offers a clear and precise map on how to conduct investigations to resolve electoral conflicts, adhering to fundamental principles that aim at the full exercise of political rights. Furthermore, as the Guide shows, these general principles are grounded in concrete analysis using examples of practices and regulations from a wide number of countries. Although its purpose is not to carry out a full international comparative analysis, it offers empirical and conceptual bases on this route. Due to its analytical breadth and hands-on approach, this Guidebook will be of great value to the community of electoral professionals worldwide. It allows for an understanding of the nature of electoral disputes in democratic processes, and at the same time makes it easier for those in charge of coordinating or conducting investigations into legal violations or electoral disputes to have a useful tool at hand that offers evidence and pointers regarding some of the dilemmas they face in their everyday practice. 8