Focus 14 The role of security forces during elections The delicate nature of the issue of the participation of security forces in managing elections cannot be ignored. This issue – the determination of the role which should fall to them – can be addressed, and eventually resolved, through a proper appreciation of the security problems which arise at each stage of the electoral process. Presented below are some ideas(with no intention to be exhaustive) regarding the stages where the need for security and hence for the resort to security forces could arise. For this purpose, it is being proposed to divide the electoral process into three stages, namely: 1. The stage before the voting: during this stage, and according to the specificities of each country, the resort to security forces can be necessary to protect: Members of the electoral commission and its agents(up to the polling agents); Voters, vote counters and their installations during the registration of voters(the establishment of the voting list); Political leaders, especially those who are candidates, and voting inspectors, with special attention to leaders of the opposition; Agents of political parties during the campaign; Headquarters of political parties and of candidates; Participants at various public meetings and demonstrations taking place during the electoral campaign; 197