grants both a candidate and his or her political party the right to challenge an act or decision that they consider harmful to their rights, it should also provide mechanisms for resolving the possible contradictions that could arise between the two proceedings which would take place. 3. Electoral justice systems and the electoral cycle 44. An integrated, comprehensive and effective approach to designing and implementing an electoral justice system is only possible if the three periods of the electoral cycle are taken into account: pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral. budget & funding electoral calendar & operational work-plans institutional strengthening & professional development STRATEGY PLANNING networking TRAINING EMB reform develop procedures operational training for electoral officials REFORM legal reform archiving & research proposals INFORMATION voter & civic education stakeholder liaison RIOD electoral system & boundaries L PE voter register update logistics & security staff recruitment procurement RA POST-EL E PR EE OD RI O CT LE ECT OR AL P Figure 2.4. The electoral cycle observer accreditation REGISTRATION REVIEW audits & evaluations official results complaints & appeals results tabulation RESULTS counting NOMINATION print & distribute ballot papers voting VOTING special & external voting ELE candidates party financing party registration voter registration codes of conduct media access campaign coordination CAMPAIGN dispute resoution CTORAL PERIOD 45. An EJS that is focused only on the most active part of the electoral cycle – that surrounding polling day – is not the best way to ensure that electoral processes and their outcomes comply with the legal framework. 18