Guidelines to Assist National Minority Participation in the Electoral Process - Page: 39 Pre-election information for voters Election day information for voters An EOM can incorporate the following points into its analytical framework for core staff and LTOs: Table 3 • " Does the law obligate the central election commission, or some other body, to adequately inform voters on all aspects of the electoral process? Was this obligation met? " Has the national and local media adequately met their responsibility to inform the public? " Were prospective candidates well enough informed to seek and attain registration? " Were there a high number of invalid ballots, indicating a lack of comprehension among voters? " Were the invalid ballots concentrated in a particular area or among a particular societal group? " Were the communication means of the voter and civic education campaign adequate to reach all parts of the country? " Did minorities in remote areas have access to voter and civic education materials? " Were minority languages utilised for the voter and civic education programmes? Follow Nomination Procedures for Candidates and Parties In addition to analysing the extent to which existing legislation might limit or prevent minority participation (such as with a strict language requirement), an EOM must also follow the actual implementation of the legislation. The appropriate core staff and LTOs should monitor the nomination process and investigate instances of refusal of nomination. Core staff and LTOs should meet regularly with representatives of minority parties / groups / candidates and in cases where nomination has been refused should gather copies of all relevant documentation. Meetings should then be held with the relevant election commission / ministry for clarification of the issue. • Monitor Media Consideration of the fair participation for national minorities should be part of the standard ODIHR media monitoring methodology. Key concerns are: - Do minority parties / candidates have reasonable and fair access to media Is media available in the language(s) of national minorities Do minorities in outlying areas have sufficient access to media