Mediation A process in which the disputing parties use a third party to assist them in reaching a settlement of a dispute though a process which is private, informal and non-binding. The mediator has no power to impose a settlement, but attempts to assist the disputants in reaching consensus and agreement on a mutually acceptable resolution to the dispute. Member (of an EDRB or EMB) A person appointed or elected to serve on the body or committee which directs the conduct and implementation of the powers and functions of the EDRB or EMB. Mixed legislativeadministrative EDR system A system that combines features of the administrative EDR and the legislative EDR systems, usually through stating that challenges are first heard by the administrative body, and subsequent challenges are heard by the legislative body in question. Mixed Model EMB An EMB with a dual structure, which has a policy, monitoring or supervisory component that is independent of the executive branch of government (as for the Independent Model EMB) and with an implementation component located within a department of state and/or local government (as for the Governmental Model EMB). Observer A person accredited to witness and assess, but not intervene in, the proceedings of an electoral process. Offence A breach of a law or rule; an illegal act. Party registration The act of enrolling political parties to participate in elections on the basis of eligibility criteria and submitted signatures and deposits. Personation The fraudulent casting of the vote of a registered elector by another person by a person pretending to be the registered elector. Polling station (or polling site) A venue established for the purpose of polling and controlled by staff of the EMB. Also called a voting station. Precedent A legal principle which future courts of law are bound to follow in making decisions. The law is based on the principle of precedent and stare decisis. Thus if a court, particularly a lower court, comes across a similar fact or situation it is obliged to follow the legal principles established in the earlier case when making a decision on the case currently before it. 204