8.1.1 drawing
up electoral registers in such a way as to ensure that as many voters
as possible register. First-time registration should be automatic,
electoral registers should be permanent and recourse to supplementary
lists exceptional. Multiple voting should be prevented effectively
without, however, violating the principle of the secrecy of the
vote;
8.1.2 ensuring a free choice for voters by making as many political
options as possible available in line with the principle of political
pluralism. Requirements for the registration of candidates and political
parties which are too strict should be abolished;
8.1.3 opening lists in proportional electoral systems to allow
citizens, where appropriate, to choose individual candidates from
among different lists;
8.1.4 enhancing internal party democracy through adoption of
the relevant legislative framework, in particular as regards transparency
of financing of political parties and the selection of candidates
for election, in line with the Venice Commission’s Code of Good
Practice in the field of Political Parties;
8.1.5 opting for an electoral system which better reflects the
opinion of the people and the political composition of the electorate,
as well as taking into account other important aspects such as geographic
distribution, gender or ethnicity;
8.1.6 introducing in their electoral legislation mechanisms
to promote the balanced representation of women and men in elected
bodies at all levels as well as encouraging political parties to
introduce internal regulations, policies and affirmative action
so as to promote the participation and representation of women in
politics;
8.1.7 facilitating access to nationality as advocated in the
European Convention on Nationality (ETS No. 166) and granting legally
resident migrants voting rights and/or other possibilities for political
participation as proposed in the Convention on the Participation
of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level (ETS No. 144). Democratic
legitimacy is not served by excluding large numbers of migrants
from political life and democratic elections;
8.1.8 ensuring that the design of the electoral system and the
delimitation of constituencies facilitate the effective participation
of minorities in the election process and thus promote minority representation
as a factor guaranteeing interethnic peace and stability;
8.1.9 ensuring freedom of political debate in the media and
guaranteeing that electoral campaigns are open and accessible and
that they allow genuine debate that is not only of interest to voters
but also informative for their choices. This requires, in particular,
transparency and pluralism of all media as well as equal access
for all candidates and political parties to the public service media,
which should be impartial. Any national regulations on election
campaigns should strike a fair balance between freedom of expression
and ensuring equal opportunities;
8.1.10 requiring that political parties permanently refrain from
exercising pressure, violence and intimidation on the population,
and protecting voters and candidates against such threats. This
requires strict compliance with the principle of secrecy of the
ballot and application of dissuasive but proportionate sanctions
against perpetrators of any of these violations;
8.1.11 guaranteeing that all possible means are used to make
all polling stations accessible;
8.1.12 enabling all citizens to exercise their right to vote
through proxy voting, postal voting or e-voting, on the condition
that the secrecy and the security of the vote are guaranteed; facilitating the
participation in the electoral process of citizens living abroad,
subject to restrictions in accordance with the law, such as duration
of residence abroad, whilst ensuring that, if polling stations are
set up abroad, their establishment is based on transparent criteria;
safeguarding the right to vote of vulnerable groups (people with
disabilities, people who are illiterate, etc.) by adapting polling
stations and voting material to their needs; abolishing legal provisions
providing for general, automatic and indiscriminate disenfranchisement
of all serving prisoners irrespective of the nature or gravity of
their offences;
8.1.13 consolidating overall democratic culture through the implementation
of the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship
and Human Rights Education;
