What is the first step taken when examining why a country does not hold free and fair elections?

The first step is to certifiy that the country guaranteed free elections by establishing the independence of the Electoral Office that offers the citizens the impartiality required to respect the people's decision.

Other important steps to check are the credibility of the officers in the electoral administration, the correct supervision of the election process and the impartiality of the Mass Media covering the news and the access for each candidate to syndicated radio and T. V.