Major References
A full discussion of codes of conduct for political parties and candidates is at Codes of Conduct for Political Parties, of their legal or voluntary basis at Codes of Conduct, and of electoral management bodies' role in their development at Establishing a Code of Conduct. However, it is useful to reinforce some aspects of limits on behaviour of political parties and candidates as they impact voting operations.
Who Is Bound by the Code
A significant issue is that of coverage of the code. To limit it to actual candidates and party officers would allow freedom for supporters of the party to act, for example, in corrupt or intimidating fashions without any fear of penalty to the cause they are attempting to further. In stable democracies this may not be an issue, and where it occurs, may be effectively dealt with by criminal law.
In areas emerging from conflict or one-party state status, a commitment on behalf of parties and candidates to promote the code amongst their supporters and to take some responsibility for the behaviour of their supporters may minimise possibilities of disruption to voting operations. In such environments codes of conduct for political parties and candidates will benefit from clear legislative definition that the code applies equally to party supporters and members as to candidates and party officials.
Legislative sanctions, such as, disqualification of a party in a particular electoral district or geographic area on proven misconduct by its members or supporters, will help in promoting the responsibility of parties for their supporters' conduct.
Conduct in Voting Locations
The role of candidates, parties, and their representatives in voting stations is dealt with at Role of Party/Candidate Representatives. Codes of conduct to be accepted by all political participants should emphasise the ethical basis of this role.
Issues related to voting operations to be dealt with in the code could include requirements:
- not to attempt to influence or intimidate voters within a voting station;
- not to handle any election material, or attempt to have it removed from the voting station, or attempt to introduce any purported election material into the voting station;
- to seek accreditation to enter voting stations and not attempt to introduce unaccredited representatives into voting stations;
- to abide by the directions of the electoral management body and voting station officials while within a voting station;
- to take up complaints about or challenges to voters' or voting station officials' actions in a courteous, factual and tactful manner;
- not to impede the rights of representatives of other political participants in their observation or monitoring functions;
- to remain unarmed while on voting operations premises;
- to take all steps to ensure the safety of voting station officials and other party and candidate representatives and observers from exposure to insult, hazard, or threat in relation to the conduct of their duties.
For an example of a comprehensive code of conduct for political participants, embodied in election regulations, see Party/Candidates Code of Conduct, South Africa, 1995.
