Guidelines for Understanding, Adjudicating, and Resolving Disputes in Elections ists from committing violations. They should thus be aware of the rules to which they are bound. E. Election Observers  In order to promote a free and fair election, local and international observers seek to determine whether the election process is in compliance with international standards.305 The presence of election observers contributes to the awareness and openness of elections, as the reported findings of the observers should provide accurate, impartial, and reliable information.306 These findings are even more important if disputes arise concerning the election results.307 Observer missions are encouraged to communicate with all the parties involved in the electoral process to try to obtain information on the integrity of the elections.308 States and electoral management bodies have stressed the importance of the presence of observers in the conduct of an election and also have created laws to better define their activities. The African Union requires its Member States to “compile and maintain a roster of African Experts in the field of election observation.”309 A roster can be used to deploy competent and professional observers310 who are armed with the skills necessary to Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation International election observation has become widely accepted around the world and plays an important role in providing accurate and impartial assessments about the nature of electoral processes. Accurate and impartial international election observation requires credible methodologies and cooperation with national authorities, the national political competitors (political parties, candidates and supporters of positions on referenda), domestic election monitoring organizations and other credible international election observer organizations, among others… Venice Commission Code, supra note 44, at 29. Commonwealth Convention, supra note 39, art. 15, § 1. 307 U.N. Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers, § 5 (Oct. 27, 2005) [hereinafter, Election Observation Declaration], available at http://www.accessdemocracy.org/files/1923_declaration_102705. pdf. 308 Id. § 15(a), (b). 309 African Elections Declaration, supra note 162, art. VI(e). 310 Id. 305 306 90