Focus 13 Issues relating to cost of elections The control of the costs of elections should preoccupy the actors of the electoral process in all the new democracies of West Africa. The fundamental problem to resolve is how to organize elections where the costs are neither exorbitant (prohibitive) nor under-funded(of poor quality). Without being in a position to propose a definitive answer to the above fundamental question, it is all the same possible to indicate some core elements. In order to control the costs of elections, one should: 1. Control regular and compulsory costs, such as for: The voting list; Indispensable electoral material; The training and preparation of polling agents(vote counters and returning officers); Logistic and organizational measures; 2. Control the costs of confidence-building and increased transparency: these are costs which boost the reliability of the process and which depend to a large extent on the political climate. One can mention: The type and quality of voting material: ballot boxes, screens, ballot paper, seals, indelible ink, etc.; The duration of the observer mission; The campaign for awareness-raising among ordinary citizens; The assistance to political parties; 190