The study of electoral processes can be divided into fifteen similar groups
from a legal point of view. These topics
cover a broad range including:
- General topics related to
the design of electoral systems, to the design of electoral authorities,
and to the management of electoral processes;
- Material activities
related to the electoral process’ development including boundary delimitation,
voter registration, voting operations and vote counting;
- The entities and individuals that contest elections as candidates and political parties;
- Related topics which are
not essential to develop an electoral legal framework, but are closely
related to electoral processes including voter and civic education, the
role of observers and the media and elections;
- Political financing topics
including the funding of political parties and candidates, restrictions on
contributions and expenditures and disclosure;
- A fundamental topic related
to electoral litigation and the resolution of electoral disputes. Such a
system is fundamental because it provides the election’s results with
legitimacy in a definitive way.
Any legal framework design or reform of an existing legal framework for elections
should take into consideration the topics listed above. The general design, material activities,
contesting groups and individuals, related topics supportive of the electoral
process, political finance and dispute resolution are all of critical relevance
to the democratic quality of elections.
Sub-sections of this chapter:
