conduct of free, equitable, credible and legitimate elections as the fundamental and preliminary condition for the democratic management of elections. The recommended principles take into account the following major factors: - Need for a complete institutional and legal framework; - Importance of transparent and accessible pre-election procedures (including the registration of voters and the nomination of candidates); - The equitable use of the media and public resources, as well as issues relating to the funding of political parties; - The organization and management of the election period including the site, provision and access to the polling stations, secrecy of the poll, as well as process of counting the votes; - The post-electoral phase, counting in the way in which electoral litigations can be solved and the means set up to guarantee that the results are accepted by all; - Required conditions for credible, impartial and professional monitoring and observation of the electoral process, without obstacles. Inspired by the experience of the SADC region, proposals that go into the development of a minimal number of standards and norms can be formulated to reinforce the quality of the conditions of conduct of elections in the ECOWAS region. 4.2 Proposals for a minimal number of norms and standards In spite of the existence of different legal traditions(Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone), difficulties relating to the requirements of respect of state's sovereignty for the regulation of elections and the differences between the levels of democratization of the Member States of ECOWAS, research and consultations are necessary for the definition of main principles of the electoral practice 218