The organization of territorial,
political and governmental systems differs from country to country and impacts the design of the electoral framework. Similarly, the legal instruments upon
which the electoral framework rests may differ markedly and be further
differentiated by different legal traditions which interpret and apply the law. These underpinnings greatly influence the
design and revision of the legal framework of elections so as to be relevant to
the particular country.
Different countries may design structural underpinnings in very different ways. There are
other structural underpinnings which may differentiate countries and
impact the electoral legal framework.
For example, indirect elections and semi-direct instruments are both options; however, the resulting limitations to the vote, tending to
particularize it instead of being universal, as well as non-competitive
one party elections, should not be welcomed.
Although the juridical tradition over which the legal framework is developed
is not itself a concrete design such as the political or governmental system, its
location in this topic is due to its contextual importance.
Sub-sections of this chapter:
