Introduction to Obligations
Through a close review of over 300 public international law documents, The Carter Center has identified 21 fundamental rights and obligations that are relevant to the electoral process. These obligations include those commonly associated with elections, such as the right and opportunity for every citizen to vote or be elected or the right to a secret ballot, as well as others that, while always applicable, take on special relevance during an elections. These obligations are outlined in the following chart.
