Elections - Public Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Elections - Public Law - Essay Example Encyclpoedia Britannica defines an election as a formal process of making decision in which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Since the 17th century, elections have been widely exploited in modern representative democracy. Elections are used in filing various offices ranging from legislative offices, executive offices and even in private and business organizations. As such, election integrity has been formulated to ensure free and fair elections. Election integrity is basically a set of standards that are built on democratic principals and a legal system that spearheads and protects free, fair and equitable elections. This paper will analyze these principles and policies that would ensure the elections meet these standards, within the typology reviewed by Kornblith and Jawahar (124-137). Respect for Principles of Electoral Democracy This principle gives all citizens equal opportunities to not only participate in an election as voters but also as candidates. Eq ual voting powers must be given to all citizens during an election. Besides, the voters must be assured their right of privacy during the voting process. The political information must be accessible to the voters as well. The elections must also be held regularly during which the free casted votes of the majority remains the sole deciding factor The principles of electoral democracy highly value the free and fair elections. An election is free when it depends on freedom from fear, freedom of assembly, speech, movement and association. An election is fair when all participants are given equal opportunities, when it is transparent, when it is free from intimidation, when there is equitable electoral legislation and system, when it is conducted by an independent and impartial commission, when a proper procedure is followed, and when there is the acceptance of the electoral results. Election integrity is based on the commitment to stick to the democratic system of government as well as the rule of law. It also depends on the channels for participation and complaints and the willingness to accept change if and when there is need. Acceptance of the official results is also very important for election integrity. The system should put in place both institutional and legal framework that ensures the free and fair election. Ethical Conduct This principle requires administrators, the officers conducting the election; the candidates in the election, the parties and anybody participate in the electoral process to conduct them selves with a high degree of ethics. This is to say that all participants must carry out themselves in a way that works towards a free and fair election, and that ensures that the integrity of the process is upheld. It is necessary for all the participants to play their parts in a transparent professional and impartial manner. It would be wrong for public officials to use their offices for their personal gains. At the same time, lobbyists should not use any incentives to inappropriately influence the electoral or public officials; in fact, the law requires that they reveal all their funding and spending. Respect for other people’s political rights and their activity is an important part of the principle of ethical conduct. Both the electoral administrators and the voters must accept the fact that everyone has the right to debate political matters and hold different political views. They must also understand that nobody reserves the right to interfere with the efforts of polit ical parties to spread their message or even the political activities of the other citizens. Accuracy Accuracy is another very vital principle in election. In as much as dishonesty and fraudulent practices are the major drawbacks to integrity in elections, honest mistakes or human error may also take place during the process. Professionalism and accuracy on the part of the election administration is therefore very necessary. The integrity and