Guidelines to Assist National Minority Participation in the Electoral Process Page: 29 credibility judgements, which then inevitably result in a limited acceptance of elections results and of the process as a whole. C. PERMANENT / AD HOC ELECTORAL BODIES The decision will need to be made as to whether the electoral commission should be a permanent one, which would be appointed and operate on a continuous basis as opposed to an ad hoc one, which would constitute itself over the period of the election and then disband until the next electoral event. The trend is towards permanent electoral bodies, which provide for a much more consistent and effective administration of elections. The advantages of a permanent electoral body, particularly insofar as national minorities are concerned are the following: • • • • A body of permanent and accountable officials who are known to the public and who develop a reputation in the electoral field; The retention of professional skills from election to election, as well as the institutional memory that is necessary in this area; The ability of national minorities to interact with a properly constituted and permanent group of individuals and professionals; The ability of electoral officials to interact internationally and also to ensure that international norms are adhered to in relation to minority issues.