An election is a contest for legitimate power that can be described as a non-violent competition, fought within a political forum. In this context, it is important to recognize that elections do not avoid confrontation, but rather focus on its management and containment within accepted boundaries. In practice, the assurance of equitable security during an electoral process is essential to retaining the participant's confidence and commitment to an election. Consequently, security is both integral to the goal of an election and an inseparable part of the electoral process. 

There is no single model of elections or democracy that is universally applicable to all countries. An election is unique; defined not only by the electoral rules, but also shaped by the social values, politics, religions, history and culture of the people. In the same way, the security of an election is unique to the circumstances in which it is conducted. The stakes of any given election are different, even if it is held periodically in the same country, due to the changing forces that shape the national interest and corresponding political agenda.