Issue
Rule of Law and the Legal Framework
Election Parts
Criteria
Summaries
- All are equal before the law, and laws should be equally enforced.
- The legal framework for elections should provide effective redress for violations of electoral rights.
- States should take measures to promote the principles of the rule of law.
- Laws and procedures must not be arbitrarily applied.
- No substantial change to the electoral law should be made within the six months prior to the election without the consent of a majority of political actors.
- Electoral legislation at all levels should not conflict.
- The rule of law should be strengthened by public participation in decision making.
- Electoral legislation should be publicly promulgated.
- Electoral legislation should be made widely available to the public for review.
- The legal framework should be available in the official languages of the country.
- Electoral legislation for all elections should be located in a single body of laws.
- Subsidiary legislation should lay out clear and precise regulations and administrative instructions for the electoral process.
- Effective implementation of electoral law requires sanctions against the infringement of electoral law.
- The rights to vote and to be elected are crucial to establishing and maintaining democracy governed by the rule of law.