The electoral
legal and regulatory framework includes numerous administrative rules such as
ordinances and regulations made by national or lower-level
authorities; regulations, proclamations and directives issued by an Election
Management Body (EMB); customary laws, conventions and codes of conducts; and
EMB regulations or policies dealing with various issues. These rules are
important as they set a clear and detailed normative framework which can be
clearly operationalized.
A lack of
legislative and operational clarity may impact negatively on the credibility
and transparency of the electoral processes and increase the risk of arbitrary
manipulation, with the potential to lead to conflict and violence.
Empirical cases:
• Maldives
local council elections 2011.
Six instances of election-related violence were reported.[1] Observers reported that
two supporters of the incumbent Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) were injured on
the island of Kelaa and taken to hospital after clashing with the police. The
incident was triggered by an Electoral Commission decision to let everyone
queuing to vote cast their ballot, no matter how long it would take.[2]
Interrelated
factors:
environmental hazards (external); poor socio-economic
conditions (external)[3];
problematic registration of political parties and candidates (internal); contested electoral law (internal);
unequal media access and favouritism (internal).[4]
