As a positive development, the proposed amendments introduce a requirement for the NSDC to apply pre-established criteria in its assessment of the security situation in relation to the possibility or impossibility of holding elections or referendums in certain territories. In line with stakeholder recommendations, the application of established assessment criteria would enhance the legal certainty, consistency, and accountability of the decision-making process, and should contribute to building public trust. In addition to the application of assessment criteria, consideration should be given to referencing in the law the overarching principle of protecting electoral rights in the course of making any decision on the impossibility of holding elections/voting in certain territories and that in making the decision, all options that would support upholding electoral rights should be considered by the decision-maker. In addition, it is important for the drafters to take into account that the legitimacy of the outcome of a particular local election or referendum could potentially be questioned if the voting takes place despite a decision to effectively disenfranchise a portion of the electorate that could impact the results.