a deadline or timelines for the adjudication of electoral disputes. This
is especially the case when there is more than one level of adjudication
and even more complicated when more than one EDR body can deal
with complaints at the first instance.
As can be seen from Figure 3.12, it was not possible to calculate
the maximum adjudication time for 46 per cent of countries for
the above-mentioned reasons. However, in 54 per cent of countries
legislation does provide for timelines and/or deadlines. Figure 3.12
bands countries by the time they allocate for the full EDR process.
Even among those countries that clearly specify timelines, however,
there are exceptions or different timelines depending on the nature
of the dispute. For example, in Ecuador it can take 2, 9 or 30 days to
complete the EDR process depending on the nature of the dispute.
In Côte d'Ivoire all the disputes have to be resolved 30 days before
parliament first resumes after the election. In special cases such as Italy,
Kenya and Russia, EDR process can last for more than a year. Having
such a long time span for the adjudication of disputes may provoke
criticism in line with the idea that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’.
Figure 3.12. Maximum time allowed for the full electoral dispute-resolution
adjudication process related to election results
17%
1–10 days
10%
46%
11–20 days
21–30 days
7%
31–60 days
8%
More than 60 days
12%
Not specified
Notes: Data for 173 countries. Graph represents the data in EJD as of August 2015.
28