International Election Principles in the 21 st Century

Transcription

1 GEORGIAN ELECTION LAW PROGRAM AGENDA International Election Principles in the 21 st Century Sponsor: Georgia Municipal Law Association Cosponsors: World Jurist Association Georgian-American University, Faculty of Law International Municipal Lawyers Association American Bar Association: Standing Committee on Election Law Section of State & Local Government Law Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice Section of International Law Georgian-American University 8 Merab Aleksidze Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia September 25, :00 am 5:00 pm Presenters: Benjamin E. Griffith, Cleveland, Mississippi (confirmed) Edward J. Sullivan, Portland, Oregon (confirmed) Shalva Tskhakaya, Tbilisi, Georgia (confirmed) Veronika Metonidze, Alexandria, Virginia (confirmed) Henry Jones, Committee for Open Democracy (confirmed) 1

2 9:00 am 9:10 am Introduction of Speakers 9:10 am 9:20 am I. Introduction of Program & Overview of International Election Principles (Ben Griffith) Elections do not make a democracy, but genuinely free and fair elections that are transparent, provide citizen access to all phases of the electoral process and ensure citizen participation in every stage of the political process are an integral part of a healthy democracy. In a country where elections do not rise to the level of free and fair, and where the voice of its people is not allowed to be heard, there is no democratic election process, nor is there a democracy. An open, accessible and transparent pre-election environment is a crucial ingredient in this process. It is one in which citizen access and participation are guaranteed, an independent judiciary operates without hindrance, and political parties operate freely. Democracy can flourish in such an environment. Beyond an open pre-election environment, moreover, the holding of free and fair elections entails universal and equal suffrage, secret ballots, non-discriminatory access to the media, and domestic as well as foreign election observers. All of these are critically important to a democratic electoral process that adheres to the 1990 Copenhagen Document, Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (IDDPR) and reaffirmed by scores of international human rights declarations, resolutions, guidelines and commitments. Collectively these form the core of international election principles for democratic elections, and like all things created by mankind, these principles are neither self-executing nor guaranteed to exist in perpetuity. Constant vigilance, oversight, and examination are required, internally and externally. Today s program reflects an effort to provide a meaningful discussion and analysis of international election principles. Speakers representing a broad range of experience, specialized knowledge and training will address current issues and dynamic principles that relate to human rights and elections, the universality of the right to vote, representative democracy, equality, the rule of law as the bedrock for democratic norms for democratic electoral systems, campaign finance laws, freedom of expression, fair competition, media access, political parties, legal prerequisites to voting and running for office, voter registration, prevention of fraud in the registration and balloting process, ballot access, absentee or provisional voting, and external or expatriate voting. 2

3 We will also delve into international criteria, rules, principles and standards around the world that apply to free and fair elections, election day conduct, monitoring and observation, the strengthening of election procedures through collaborative efforts of NGOs and other international organizations, relevant and current election standards. Many of these standards and principles are evidenced by actions and resolutions of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), the European Commission for Democracy Through Law, and other international organizations, public and private. We will take a practical and realistic look at the expectations of citizens and key aspects of public participation in elections and the many facets of election administration, followed by a detailed examination of election dispute resolution, recounts, and procedures applicable to election contests, key aspects of effective, timely and appropriate remedies, and core principles of electoral processes and democratic elections in a broader political context, focusing on voting by refugees and displaced citizens and determination of citizenship for purposes of voting, Finally, we will undertake a detailed review of relevant principles, standards, rules and practices drawn from U.S. Election Law and Voting Rights, including laws and regulations relating to minority voting rights, accessibility to voting by the elderly and handicapped, military and overseas voting, voter identification, internet and e-voting, absentee voting, early voting, and voting by mail. It is our hope and anticipation that you will have questions for the speakers at the conclusion of the presentations, and each of us will do our best to respond to those questions. 9:20 am 9:50 am A. Human Rights and Elections: The Need for Inclusivity, Transparency, Accountability and Public Confidence (Ben Griffith) 1. Right to take part in government and in conduct of public affairs of one s country: the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government (Article 21, Universal Declaration). 2. Every citizen must be provided the right and the opportunity without discrimination based on distinctions such as race, gender, religion, language, property, or political or other opinion and without unreasonable restrictions to vote and be elected at genuine periodic elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors. (Article 25, ICCPR). 3. Election observers from intergovernmental and NGOs that base their activities on promotion of international human rights (Declaration of 3

4 Principles for International Election Observation, 4. Elements of electoral standards, international obligations concerning elections, and comprehensive collection of international instruments (Compendium of International Standards for Elections, EC 2007, 5. Recognition of international principles for democratic elections evidenced by generally accepted, authoritative publications [Guy S. Goodwin-Gill, Free and Fair Elections: International Law and Practice (Inter- Parliamentary Union 2006); Patrick Merloe, Democratic Elections: Human Rights, Public Confidence and Fair Competition (UN African American Institute, IFES and NDI 1994), 6. Hallmarks of genuinely democratic elections: broad exercise of internationally recognized human rights in electoral context, without discrimination or unreasonable restrictions (Universal Declaration, Copenhagen Document, ICCPR), such as a. the right to associate into political organizations, b. the right to peacefully assembly and demonstrate support for electoral competitors, c. the right to move freely to build electoral support, d. the right to be free of the threat of violence or coercion while making political choices or exercising political expression, e. the right to hold political opinions without interference, and f. the right to freedom of political expression. 7. Antidiscrimination Principle: Combined force of requirements applicable to democratic elections, including a. universal and equal suffrage, b. general prohibition against discrimination, c. right to equality before the law, d. right to equal protection of the law, and e. right to remedies that effectively redress violations of rights 8. Inclusiveness Principle a. Identify/ overcome factors that impede citizens exercise of right to vote b. Affirmative steps to educate citizens about electoral rights c. Affirmative steps to remove barriers to participation in government affairs d. Guiding force for development of registry of voters to maximize opportunity for eligible citizens to vote, prescreening of voters to reduce election day bureaucracy, promoting universal suffrage, limiting of possibilities for ineligible persons to vote and for illegal multiple voting, and prevention of vote dilution with respect to weight of legally cast ballots e. Voter Registration process as genuine opportunity for citizens to appear on registry of voters on nondiscriminatory basis, with reasonable opportunity to inspect and correct voter registry before elections take 4

5 place, and with polling stations at locations that provide citizens a genuine and equal opportunity to cast their votes 9. Principle of Transparency in Electoral Process based on freedom to seek, receive and impart information about the electoral process, which in turn is integral to right to freedom of expression; 10. Media Access: Freedom of media to cover and disseminate information on issues deemed significant to the public debate surrounding elections, including information central to integrity of the electoral process 11. Voter Education: Providing the electorate, electoral competitors and candidates sufficient, timely information about candidate qualifications, voter registration, voting, and other electoral matters 12. Accountability Principle a. Effective means of redress for violation of electoral rights b. Government and administrative accountability c. Criminal liability for violation of electoral rights 13. Public Confidence in the electoral process a. Assent of electoral competitors b. Citizen confidence in election process: participation and access 14. Access to Official Documents in Electoral Context: Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents adopted 27 November 2008 recognized the importance in a pluralistic, democratic society of transparency of public authorities and that exercise of a right to access to official documents provides a source of information for and helps the public to form an opinion on the state of society and on public authorities and fosters the integrity, efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of public authorities, so helping affirm their legitimacy. Each Party shall guarantee the right of everyone, without discrimination on any ground, to have access, on request, to official documents held by public authorities. B. Universality of Right to Vote (Shalva Tskhakaya) C. Representative Democracy: Parity, Adequacy & Accountability (Shalva Tskhakaya) D. Equality: Constituencies and Districting (Ben Griffith) E. Democratic Norms and Conditions for Democratic Systems: The Rule of Law (Ben Griffith) F. Electoral, Campaign and Political Finance Laws and Standards: Compliance, Corrupt Practices, Disclosure and Enforcement (Ben Griffith) 5

6 G. Election Campaigning: Freedom of Expression and Right to Communication (Ben Griffith) H. Private Financing of Political Parties and Candidates: Preservation of Fair Competition During Elections (Ben Griffith) I. Political Broadcasting and Media Access Rules and Standards (Ben Griffith) J. Candidacies, Political Parties and the Boundaries of Party Law: Definition, Composition, Structure and Activities (Ben Griffith) 9:50 am 10:20 am K. Legal Prerequisites to Voting: Citizenship, Identification, and Disqualification (Shalva Tskhakaya) L. Voter Registration: Periodic Voter Lists, Continuous Registers, and Civil Registries (Shalva Tskhakaya) M. Prevention of Fraud in Registration Process (Shalva Tskhakaya) N. Polling Places: Public vs. Private, Mobile Voting, Accessibility, and Procedures (Shalva Tskhakaya) O. Election Day Officials (Shalva Tskhakaya) P. Ballot Access (Ben Griffith) Q. Balloting Procedures and Tabulation: Accessibility, Security, Reliability and Transparency (Ben Griffith) R. Absentee Voting and Provisional Ballots: Flexibility and Fraud Prevention (Ben Griffith) S. Expatriate Voting (Ben Griffith) 10:20 am 10:35 am Coffee Break compliments of GAU Faculty of Law 10:35 am 11:05 am II. Standards, Rules, and Other Criteria that Apply to Elections Around the World (Shalva Tskhakaya) A. Free and Fair Elections (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 6

7 B. Election Day Conduct, Processes and Procedures (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) C. Election Day Monitoring and Observation: Standards for International Election Observers (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 11:05 am 11:35 pm III. Collaborative efforts of international organizations, NGOs and others to strengthen electoral procedures (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) A. United Nations (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: 3. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties: f 4. Convention Against Corruption: 5. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: 6. Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers: 7. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: 8. Respect for the Principles of National Sovereignty and Non-Interference in the Internal Affairs of States in Their Electoral Processes: B. Council of Europe (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 7

8 1. Convention of the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at the Local Level: 2. European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: 3. First Protocol to the European and Fundamental Freedoms: C. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR, (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 1. Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE 2. Charter of Paris for a New Europe - CSCE Summit: 3. Guidelines for Reviewing a Legal Framework for Elections: 4. Existing Commitments for Democratic Elections in OSCE Participating States: 5. ODIHR Election Observation Handbook 1999: D. European Commission for Democracy Through Law: Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters, Guidelines and Explanatory Report: (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) E. Organization of American States: (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 1. American Convention on Human Rights: 32_American_Convention_on_Human_Rights.pdf 8

9 2. Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights to Women: 4. Inter-American Democratic Charter: F. Inter-Parliamentary Council Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections: (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) G. Organization of African Unity: African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: 20protocols/banjul%20charter.pdf (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) H. Southern African Development Community Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections: rotocollections I. G. Goodwin-Gill, Free and Fair Elections: International Law and Practice, Inter-Parliamentary Union (Geneva, 1994): J. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Convention on Standards of Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights and Freedoms in the States- Participants of the Commonwealth of Independent States, signed 7 October 2002, not yet in force (three ratifications required) (unofficial translation) ("CIS Electoral Convention"): K. Parliament and Democracy in the Twenty-First Century: A Guide to Good Practice: ; ;

10 11:35 pm 12:05 pm IV. Citizen Participation and Planning Law (Ed Sullivan) A. Public Participation in American Common Law 1. Structure of Municipal Land Use Regulations 2. ALI Model Code and Legislative-Quasi-Judicial Distinction 3. Public Hearings 4. Initiatives and Referenda as form of direct democracy B. International Approaches to Land Use Participation 1. France: Schemas de Coherence Territoriale 2. German Law 3. United Kingdom and the Commonwealth 4. Other International Citizen Participation Legislation C. Conclusion: Transparent Process in Planning and Electoral Process Generally 12:05 pm 1:10 pm Lunch Break On your own 1:10 pm 1:40 pm V. Comparative assessments to review election doctrines (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 1:40 pm 2:10 pm VI. Election Dispute Resolution and Recounts: _abs.pdf (Shalva Tskhakaya) 2:10pm 2:40 pm VII. Election Contests: Process, Standards and Procedures (Ben Griffith/Hank Jones) 2:40 pm 2:55 pm Coffee Break compliments of GAU Faculty of Law 2:55 pm 3:25 pm VIII. Remedies: Effective, Timely and Appropriate (Shalva Tskhakaya/Veronika Metonidze) 10

11 3:25 pm 4:00 pm VIII. Core principles of electoral processes and democratic elections in a broader political context (Veronica Metonidze) A. Voting by Refugees and Displaced Citizens B. Determination of Citizenship for purposes of voting 4:00 pm 4:30 pm IX. Relevant principles, standards, rules and practices drawn from U.S. Election Law and Voting Rights (Veronica Metonidze/Ben Griffith) A. Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended (Ben Griffith) 1. Protection of Voting Rights of Minorities, 2. Language Minority Groups, 3. Disabled Persons, 4. Others subjected to voter suppression, 5. vote dilution, 6. discrimination in voting on account of race, ethnicity, national origin or other prohibited classification B. Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (Ben Griffith) C. National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Ben Griffith) D. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Ben Griffith) E. Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1996 (Ben Griffith) F. Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (Ben Griffith) F. Federal Election Campaign Act (Ben Griffith) G. Voter Identification Legislation and Pending Litigation (Ben Griffith) H. Voter Suppression (Veronica Metonidze) 11

12 I. Internet Voting and Electronic Voting (Veronica Metonidze) J. Absentee Voting (Veronica Metonidze) K. Mail Voting (Veronica Metonidze) L. Early Voting (Veronica Metonidze) 4:30 pm 5:00 pm IX. Questions & Answers Program Evaluation and Awarding of Certificates of Participation by GAU Faculty of Law 12