A punitive measure following an electoral offence/crime, imposed on the perpetrator, entity or person responsible for the irregularity. An electoral penalty can be either criminal (by conventional punishment) or administrative (usually through financial means) in nature. A criminal penalty is always imposed by a court. An administrative penalty can in some electoral justice systems be imposed by the EMB. Electoral process The series of steps involved in the preparation and carrying out of a specific election or direct democracy instrument. The electoral process usually includes the enactment of the electoral law, electoral registration, the nomination of candidates and/or political parties or the registration of proposals, the campaign, the voting, the counting and tabulation of votes, the resolution of electoral disputes and the announcement of results. Electoral regulations Rules subsidiary to legislation made, often by the EMB or the ministry within which an EMB is located, under powers contained in the electoral law which govern aspects of the organization and administration of an election. Electoral rights Political rights which are enshrined in the basic or fundamental provisions of a particular legal order (generally in the constitution), in general relating to the political right to participate in the conduct of public affairs, directly or by means of freely elected representatives. The main electoral rights include the right to vote and to run for elective office, freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Electoral system A set of rules and procedures which provides for the electorate to cast their votes and which translate these votes into seats for parties and candidates in the parliament or the legislature. Electoral tribunal A judicial institution with specific competence to hear contests and disputes on electoral matters. Eligible voter A person eligible to register and to vote in an election or direct democracy instrument. Evidence Evidence includes any document, piece of testimony or tangible object presented at a hearing by an EDRB in line with accepted rules of admissibility that tends to prove or disprove an alleged fact. Filing fee A legal requirement to pay any fee or deposit as a condition for the submission of a complaint. 201 Annex A. Glossary Electoral penalty