In practice, electoral commissions resort to security forces for a number of tasks in order to increase security during elections. A good example: The electoral commission of Benin The electoral law of Benin – like in many other countries in the region – does not reserve a special place to the issue relating to the role of security forces in elections. However, it is noticeable that the legislator was conscious of the security problems that could arise in almost all stages of the electoral process. It resolves the issue through a terse formula according to which“… the minister in charge of public security maintains the security of the citizens and operations during the whole electoral period, from the electoral campaign up to the final declaration of the polling results …”(art. 147). In spite of that, security forces are used for several security tasks during the process. They intervene to protect: · Authorities of the commission; · Installations of the commission; · Places for the production of sensitive electoral documents(such as ballot papers); · The transportation of sensitive material; · Installations of electoral courts(at least up to the declaration of the final results). 195