Redressing Past Discrimination
The human rights environment, in both its current state and any recent history, 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 active, present special challenges for the organisation of voting operations, especially regarding the following:
The legal framework. Reviews of laws would be prudent in order 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 polling officials, voting operations employment policies can be of use in assisting the breaking down of past discriminatory employment practices, particularly in regard to employment of women and cultural minorities.
Voter information will need to specifically address groups who may have been denied or discouraged from voting participation.
Election integrity, 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 in a discriminatory fashion the rights of persons to vote, to be nominated as candidates or to campaign for election. To allow free participation, electoral law should generally take precedence over such emergency powers.
Security
The issue of security is also of importance in ensuring 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 fairly conducted election. Voting stations should be safe from intimidation of voters by security forces, political candidates, polling officials, senior bureaucrats or private employers. Employment of persons with power over local communities as polling officials is unwise, as is (except in emergencies) allowing an excessive or intimidating security force presence in voting stations.
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 may intimidate voters and officials.
