g) Electoral infractions regulated in various countries 121. The election laws in several countries establish election-related administrative infractions such as: • a breach by a political party, political grouping or candidate of its legal obligations and of the decisions of the electoral authority; wrongful actions by their supporters; failure to report where funds come from and how they are used; accepting gifts and financial contributions of unlawful origin; accepting gifts or contributions that exceed the legal limits; and spending more than the amounts authorized for campaigns; • a breach by citizens or other individuals of the rules for electoral observation; • failure by the media to transmit the messages of the political parties at the official time or to comply with legal provisions regarding the volume and content of coverage related to the electoral process; • a breach by electoral officials of their obligations provided for by law; or • an electoral official, public employee or religious or community leader offering inducement to vote for or against a particular candidate or political party, or to refrain from voting. 122. In order to increase the likelihood of compliance, it is advisable for the electoral law to provide for the sanctions imposed on political parties to be independent of the liability that may attach to their leaders, members, candidates or supporters. 123. Financial sanctions should be proportionate and therefore severe enough to fulfil their purpose of inhibiting prohibited conduct. If they are merely symbolic, this may be read as an invitation to break the law, as the person committing the infraction may calculate that the benefits of violating a prohibition may be greater than the cost of the sanction. In this regard, the timing of the sanction is also important. Extremely long administrative procedures which determine liability and impose the 49 4. EDR mechanisms b. reprimand, suspension or cancellation of a political party’s or political grouping’s registration; c. reductions in public financing for a political party; d. suspension of a political party’s officially allotted radio and television time for political advertising or political messages; e. suspension of air time for radio and television broadcasts; f. loss or cancellation of the right to register as a candidate; g. cancellation of accreditation as an election observer; or h. fines or other financial penalties.