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What Constitutes a Free and Fair Election?
A 'FREE' electoral process is one where fundamental
human rights and freedoms are respected, including:
 | freedom of speech and expression by electors, parties, candidates and
the media; |
| freedom of association; that is, freedom to form organizations such as
political parties and NGOs; |
| freedom of assembly, to hold political rallies and to campaign; |
| freedom of access to and by electors to transmit and receive political
and electoral information messages; |
| freedom to register as an elector, a party or a candidate; |
| freedom from violence, intimidation or coercion; |
| freedom of access to the polls by electors, party agents and accredited
observers; |
| freedom to exercise the franchise in secret, and |
| freedom to question, challenge and register complaints or objections
without negative repercussions. |
A 'FAIR' electoral process is one where the 'playing field' is reasonably
level and accessible to all electors, parties and candidates, and includes:
| an independent, non-partisan electoral organization to administer the
process; |
| guaranteed rights and protection through the constitution and electoral
legislation and regulations; |
| equitable representation of electors provided through the legislation; |
| clearly defined universal suffrage and secrecy of the vote; |
| equitable and balanced reporting by the media; |
| equitable access to financial and material resources for party and
candidate campaigning; |
| equitable opportunities for the electorate to receive political and
voter information; |
| accessible polling places; |
| equitable treatment of electors, candidates and parties by elections
officials, the government, the police, the military and the judiciary; |
| an open and transparent ballot counting process, and |
| election process not disrupted by violence, intimidations or coercion. |
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