Summary
With respect to candidates for office, there should be no restrictions on candidates for reasons such as requirement of party membership or nomination.
Election Parts
Issues
Quotes
- The right of persons to stand for election should not be limited unreasonably by requiring candidates to be members of parties or of specific parties.
- To ensure that the will of the people serves as the basis of the authority of government, the participating States will: respect the right of citizens to seek political or public office, individually or as representatives of political parties or organizations, without discrimination.
- There should be no discrimination against any candidate or political party.
- Candidates seeking office must be permitted to run either as party candidates or individually. In countries using proportionate representation based on party list voting, parties must be allowed to include persons who are not party members on the party lists. In addition, candidates cannot be discriminated against regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof.
- Electoral laws and procedures should guard against unfair advantage being bestowed upon Government-supported candidates.