Issue
Safety, Security, and Voting Operations
Election Parts
Criteria
- The right to security of the person for all citizens (including EMB personnel) was protected throughout the election period
- Security personnel played a positive role during the electoral process, providing protection for voters, candidates, and electoral management body personnel without interfering in the process
- Election officials were able to maintain order at the polling station
- Potential voters were able to vote without intimidation or coercion
- Safeguards were in place to prevent coercion of voters
Summaries
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention.
- Law enforcement should behave in a neutral manner.
- Interference with registration, intimidation or coercion of potential voters is prohibited.
- Safeguards should be in place to prevent removal of evidence of how a voter has voted from the polling station.
- Voters have a right to security provided by police and security forces in polling stations, but without interference from them.
- The highest election official at the polling site should have authority to maintain order.
- Voters are free to vote for any candidate for election, for or against any referendum or proposal, for or against the government, without undue influence or coercion of any kind which may distort or inhibit free expression.
- States should ensure that violence, including online, does not undermine women's rights, including political participation and representation.
- Any security-related restrictions of freedoms and the use of force by public security providers must be based in law, necessary, and proportionate to the objective of maintaining public order.
- States should create, in law and practice, an enabling environment for civil society organizations to operate free from hindrance and insecurity.