Voluntary
Code of Conduct
The International Institute
for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has developed a
model Code of Conduct for Political Parties Campaigning in Democratic
Elections. This voluntary code establishes ground rules for ethical behaviour.
It can be applied to political parties and candidates around the world.
Mandatory
Code of Conduct
Some electoral systems provide
for adoption of a mandatory code of conduct that all parties and candidates
must follow if they are competing in elections. Such a code may form part of
the legal or regulatory framework and violators may be subject to
administrative and legal sanctions. A candidate who fails to comply could be
disqualified and face legal action. Most codes are essentially
voluntary but sometimes such codes provide for consultation and mediation
concerning the circumstances and effect of violations.
An example of a code for a
country in transition is the 1995 South African Electoral Code of Conduct for
Political Parties. The Code is binding on any party, candidate or party
representative submitting an application to partiticipate in elections. The Code essentially required participants to behave as follows:
- Publicly condemn violence
and intimidation.
- Do not engage in violence
or intimidation, or in language or action that might lead to violence or
intimidation.
- Do not allow weapons to
be carried at political meetings, marches, demonstrations, voting stations,
etc.
- Do not publish or repeat
false, defamatory or inflammatory allegations about political opponents.
- Cooperate with other
political parties to avoid holding political activities at the same time
and place.
- Do not prevent eligible
voters from having access to political opponents.
- Do not destroy, disfigure
or remove other political parties’ campaign materials.
- Do not plagiarize other
political parties’ symbols, colours or acronyms.
- Do not try to bribe
eligible voters.
- Do not abuse positions of
power, influence or privilege.
- Do not discriminate on
the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, social class or religion.
- Facilitate equal
participation for women, and their access to political activities and to
voting.
- Cooperate with the
electoral authorities in investigating issues and allegations in
connection with the election.
- Take all reasonable steps
to protect election officers, voter registration officers and their
representatives from insult, hazard or threat in the course of their
official duties.
- Reassure voters that the
secrecy and integrity of the ballot will be maintained, and that no one
will know how any other person has voted.
- Take necessary and
reasonable steps to instill discipline in party/candidate representatives,
employees or supporters, and guide them to follow the Code, comply with
laws and regulations, commit no election irregularities, and adhere to
election regulations.
- Establish and maintain
communication with the government, voter registration officers, returning
officers and election committees, and with parties and candidates at
provincial and local level. This includes exchanging names, addresses and
telephone/fax numbers of their agents, supervisors and representatives.[1]
[1] Electoral Commission of South
Africa, “Electoral Code of Conduct for Political
Parties,” Election Administration Manual of South
Africa, 1995, Ch. 5, p. 29
