Stages of the Investigation Process collecting further information and evidence if sufficient detail is not provided in the initial complaint. In another example, the Australian Electoral Commission’s complaint management policy clearly states that a complaint may be submitted anonymously or using a pseudonym but that the resulting investigation and response may necessarily be limited.8 It is important to note that, even where a complaint cannot be filed anonymously, the investigator can keep the name and information of the complainant confidential in order to ensure his or her protection from retaliation, especially in countries in which election violence is common.9 Investigation bodies may refrain from sharing the name of the complainant when notifying the respondent or when releasing information about the case to the media.10 For example, the Election Complaints Commission (ECC) in Afghanistan blacked out the names of complainants when publishing its decisions during the 2010 and 2014 elections. To ensure effective notice and reduce the likelihood of immediate complaint dismissal due to lack of information, EDR bodies should develop uniform standards for the submission of complaints. Laws and regulations often lay out requirements for filing, including the use of a standardized complaint form, the exact time, place, and narrative description of the alleged violation, the contact information for the complainant, the witnesses, the on-site statement by the EMB representative and/or respondent if known, the remedy(ies) sought, the alleged impact on election processes and outcomes, the legal or regulatory provision allegedly violated, and the itemization of admissible evidence submitted in support of the complaint.11 Standard complaint forms, either physical or online, also offer complainants the guidance on the elements required for filing.12 Developing filing standards that are clear and accessible to all election stakeholders would assist investi- 8 Australian Electoral Comm’n, Complaints Management Policy, https://www.aec.gov.au/about_aec/publications/policy/ complaints-management.htm (last visited May 26, 2020) [hereinafter Australian Election Complaints Management Policy]. 9 Id. 10 Id. 11 Law No. 1381-XII of 1997 (Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova), Monitorul Oficial al R.Moldova No. 81/667 of July 12, 1997, art. 65–68 (Moldova); Election Comm’n of Liberia, Complaints Regulations ¶ 6 (2005); Haiti Const. art. 183 (2005); Law No. 112 of 2014 (Election Law), ‫ هیلدع ترازو‬No. 15/5/1392 of Aug. 6, 2014, art. 62–68 (Afg.). 12 Sri Lanka, Election Commission, Complaint Form (on file with IFES); Canada, Commissioner of Canada Election, When Should I Complain, Online Forms, https://www.cef-cce.ca/content.asp?section=comp&dir=faq&document=index&lang=e (last visited May 27, 2020). 25