Individuals should have the right to establish political parties, express their political opinions
without fear of recrimination, campaign at election time, and have equal access to other voters
through rallies, meetings, or electronic and print media. This right will usually be expressed as a
constitutional right.
Political parties have an important role in ensuring the fairness and integrity of the electoral
process from the registration of voters through to voting day and the declaration of the result of
the election. The national election body should consult political parties on major
decision-making issues. One way of achieving this consultation is by having political parties
represented on the national electoral body and, if desired and appropriate, at the regional and
local level (see Political Party Liaison).
Individuals and political parties, however, have their own responsibilities. They should respect
the views of others and not take part in or cause there to be violence. Most important, political
parties and individuals should accept the result of the elections and only challenge the results in
a peaceful manner through the proper appeal channels providing they have just cause. The
national election body has a role to play in this respect. Depending on the legislation in force in
a particular country, political parties may be required to register with the national election body
or with a department of state. At the very least, candidates will need to go through the process
of nomination at a central or regional level. By doing so, it is implicit that they agree to abide by
the rules of the election. The national election body should ensure that these rules are made
known to political parties, the candidates and any agents, and their supporters. This information
could be disseminated by making available the election law, rules, and regulations and involving
the political players in formal training sessions organised by national or regional election bodies.
Additionally or alternatively, it may take the form of a code of conduct for political parties (see
Political Party Liaison).
The election law may define strict provisions that should be overseen by the national election
body. They may prevent the formation of particular political grouping, such as fascist or
anarchist parties, certain ethnic groupings, and so forth. The national election body should have
the ability to monitor and, if necessary, prohibit the registration of such parties or the nomination
of candidates representing these groups.
Additionally, the law may give political parties certain rights, such as access to funding, access
to the media, equal ability to organise rallies, the right to appoint observers at polling places, and
so on. All these matters should be under the control of the national election body, which can
resolve disputes or clamp down on those parties not playing by the previously publicised rules of
the game.
