More about the Right to Elect and to be Elected

Sections 101, 8, and 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia
Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 25 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Article 3 of the First Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

Election right – the right to elect and to be elected – is closely related to the right of participation in the operation of Governmental and municipal authorities. The said right designed to ensure representation of citizens in the operation of the Government and municipalities constitutes a key element of democratic State.

The said right is related to duty of the State to ensure practical exercise of the right to elect and to be elected without unjustified restrictions. It follows from the above-stated that only justified reasonable restrictions prescribed by law are permissible. This is true not only concerning the election process but also the election procedure in a wider sense: listing for voting or standing, periodicity and availability of election, and the procedure for summarizing and announcing the results of election. Equality of electors and expression of their free will has to be ensured throughout the election process.