Redressing Past Discrimination
The human rights environment, contemporary and historical, will affect the freedom and fairness of voting processes and the population's willingness to participate in an election.
Societies in which discrimination or intimidation in any form (regarding political belief, nationality, culture, gender, language, religion, physical capacities) has previously been prevalent, present special challenges for the organisation of voting operations, especially regarding the following:
The legal framework: Best practice requires that laws are reviewed and amended to repeal or suspend those that may be discriminatory or impinge on the fairness or freedom of voting processes.
Election administration: May require special action to ensure representation for groups previously excluded from administrative power or positions. Given the large numbers of staff that will generally be required as voting station officials, voting operations employment policies can assist in breaking down past discriminatory employment practices, and promote equal opportunities of employment for women and other previously discriminated against groups.
Voter information: Will need to specifically address groups who may have been denied or discouraged from voting participation.
Election integrity and the professionalism and independence of the electoral management body, where past practice has not given this priority.
Post Conflict Environments
Where elections mark the emergence of societies from periods of conflict or a breakdown in the rule of law, legal frameworks for election processes will need careful attention. Such situations can often give rise to the imposition of states of emergency which, if allowed to stand, may restrict the rights of persons to vote, be nominated as candidates or campaign for election.
To allow free participation, electoral law should generally take precedence over such emergency powers. It is common practice in Bills of Rights that voting rights are considered non-derogable.
Security
Security is important to ensure that human rights are protected in the voting operations environment. Sufficient security to guarantee that voters may vote freely and without fear of current or future intimidation is a basic precept of a free and fair election.
Voting stations should be safe from intimidation of voters by security forces, political candidates, voting station officials, senior bureaucrats, or private employers. Employment of persons with power over local communities as voting station staff is unwise.
Allowing an excessive or intimidating security force presence in voting stations can exacerbate an already tense political situation. An excessive security presence must be weighted against the need for effective protection of all those participating in the electoral process.
Where police and military forces are perceived as aligned with specific political forces, additional strategies (including the use of international forces) may need to be employed to ensure security and integrity of voting material, the safety of voters and candidates, and to ensure that all participants enjoy equal protection.
In cultures where the public bearing of arms is common, measures will need to be taken to keep voting stations and their surrounding areas free of armed persons who mamay intimidate voters and officials.
