It is of paramount importance that appeal procedures should be clear, transparent, and easily understandable. However, in a number of cases, the procedures for dealing with complaints and appeals are complicated and not clearly defined. International observers’ reports repeatedly characterise complaint and appeals procedures as complex, ambiguous, and confusing, leading to an inconsistent interpretation and application of the electoral law. In a number of countries, the lack of clearly defined procedures, inter alia, for campaign and media-related complaints and/or unclear responsibilities for the handling of electoral disputes has undermined the effectiveness of the respective complaint and appeal system (e.g. Albania, Czech Republic, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, and Slovakia). The rules and procedures are often not well understood by electoral subjects, and members of relevant bodies are not always sufficiently trained in how to handle election disputes.