Genuine Elections That Reflect the Free Expression of the Will of the People

• Cite

  UNGA: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 25(b)

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “To vote and be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the voter.”

• Cite

  OAS: American Convention on Human Rights, art. 23.1(b)

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “Every citizen shall enjoy the following rights: b. to vote and to be elected in genuine periodic elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and by secret ballot that guarantees the free expression of the will of the voters.”

• Cite

  CIS: Commonwealth of Independent States Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, art. 29(b)

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “Everyone shall have the right and opportunity and in the state of which he is a citizen (b) to vote and to be elected at elections held on the basis of universal and equal suffrage by secret ballot, that guarantees the free expression of the will of the voters.”

• Cite

  CoE (ECHR): Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights) as amended by Protocol No. 11, art. 3

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “The High Contracting Parties undertake to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature.”

• Cite

  AU: African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, art. 3.4

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Voter Education, Voter Registration, Electoral Dispute Resolution, Election Management, Voting Operations, Candidacy and Campaigning, The Media, Vote Counting and Tabulation

  “State Parties shall implement this Charter in accordance with the following principles: 4. Holding of regular, transparent, free and fair elections.”

• Cite

  AU: African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, art. 12.1

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “State Parties undertake to implement programmes and carry out activities designed to promote democratic principles and practices as well as consolidate a culture of democracy and peace. To this end, State Parties shall: 1) Promote good governance by ensuring transparent and accountable administration.”

• Cite

  ECOWAS: Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on Democracy and Good Governance Supplementary to the Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Security, art. 1(b)

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “Every accession to power must be made through free, fair and transparent elections.”

• Cite

  UN: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 21.3

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”

• Cite

  OSCE: Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE, para. 6

  Legal Framework, Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Election Management, Voter Education, Candidacy and Campaigning, Voter Registration, Voting Operations, Vote Counting and Tabulation, The Media, Electoral Dispute Resolution

  “The participating States declare that the will of the people, freely and fairly expressed through periodic and genuine elections, is the basis of the authority and legitimacy of all government.”

• Cite

  OAS: Inter-American Democratic Charter, art. 3

  Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation, Voting Operations, Voter Education, Electoral Dispute Resolution, Candidacy and Campaigning, The Media, Legal Framework, Vote Counting and Tabulation, Election Management, Voter Registration

  “Essential elements of representative democracy include, inter alia, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to and the exercise of power in accordance with the rule of law, the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections based on secret balloting and universal suffrage as an expression of the sovereignty of the people, the pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, and the separation of powers and independence of the branches of government.”