12. The NIHR monitored a statement on the official social media account of the Public Prosecutor’s Office stating that its Investigation Committee for Electoral Crimes received a report from the Supreme Committee for the General Supervision of the Soundness of Elections about a video that circulated on social media sites, showing the campaign manager of one of the candidates paying money to a number of voters in return for their pledge to vote for the candidate. In addition, the candidate and those running his campaign assisted voters in order to cast their votes in his favor. The Public Prosecution initiated the investigation with all the parties. 13. The NIHR believes that, although the law and the regulating decisions related to the electoral process are based on the principle of freedom of such publicity and propaganda, and that it is restricted by a number of controls to ensure proper practice, it was observed that a number of candidates have used electoral propaganda that is not in conformity with the status of the Council to which such candidates might become members therein. In addition to the specified legal controls, it is necessary in all cases that the election propaganda respects public taste and the moral values of the society. 14. The Supreme Committee for the General Supervision of the Soundness of Elections declared, 24 hours from the date of the ballot as determined by law, that 23 November 2018 is the election silence day in the first round, and that 30 November 2018 is the re-run, in which all election propaganda should be ceased all over the Kingdom. 15. In the same context, the NIHR followed up a number of candidates who, directly or indirectly, continued their election campaigns during the electoral silence period - during the first round and the run-off - by publicizing themselves using promotional public social media accounts. In addition, a number of members of the campaign teams were promoting those candidates, as well as moving their electoral advertisement boards to locations close to the polling and counting stations. All of such actions are in violation of the provisions of the law and decisions governing the electoral process. 16. In this regard, the NIHR affirms that the philosophy behind electoral silence and the associated electoral campaigning practices is to allow voters to determine their choices freely, without confusing or influencing their decisions. Voters, during the hours before the ballot, are usually exposed to psychological pressures that might influence their electoral options. This is the reason for upholding the electoral silence period in the provisions of the Law, in addition to the prohibition of certain practices in electoral propaganda. Such provisions ensure that voters are not influenced or pressured, and that they are able to decide their choices and vote for the candidates who they believe are entitled to run for elections, away from the voices instigating voters to cast their votes for a certain candidate. 79