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 The rules subsidiary to legislation made, often by the EMB or the ministry in 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 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. Freedom of expression A universal right protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 provides that ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers’. Free, fair and genuine elections A free, fair and genuine election emanates from an electoral process which is a real contest where there is full enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and political rights related to elections: freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement. This electoral process is supervised by an impartial electoral administration to ensure that the election is conducted fairly, impartially and in accordance with laws. Opportunities exist for independent scrutiny and access to independent review. There is a legal framework and electors are fully informed of their rights. Guarantee Any legal means or instruments, which are both structural and procedural, by which values, rights or institutions that are protected or established by the legal order on behalf of the voter are assured, protected, supported, defended or safeguarded. 61