Summary
States should take steps to provide civic (including voter) education.
Election Parts
Issues
Criteria
- Voter education efforts included information about all electoral rights, including equal suffrage, the right to vote and be elected, the right to an effective remedy, and the secret ballot
- The scheduling of elections granted sufficient time for a complete and comprehensive voter education program
- The state took the steps necessary to give effect to rights during voter education
- Voter education was provided by the EMB and was impartial and responsive to the needs of the electorate
Quotes
- States 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, States Parties shall: 4. integrate civic education in their educational curricular and develop appropriate programmes and activities.
- In particular, States should: ...Initiate or facilitate national programmes of civic education, to ensure that the population are familiar with election procedures and issues.
- The Electoral Commission should be required by law to provide for a satisfactory and adequately funded voter education programme that helps voters to be acquainted with the voting procedures and other aspects of civic awareness.
- The public authorities have a number of positive obligations; inter alia, they must: i. submit the candidatures received to the electorate ii. enable voters to know the lists and candidates standing for election, for example through appropriate posting. iii. The above information must also be available in the languages of the national minorities.