Global Practices in Context of Managing and Monitoring Elections الممارسات العالمية في سياق إدارة ومراقبة الانتخابات حول العالم

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صورة الكتاب


Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, serving as the most effective means of political control. They empower individuals to shape their government by selecting from a pool of political candidates who will chart the course for their collective future. Furthermore, elections enable significant decisions to be made through referendums. The pivotal role of elections in shaping the political landscape has generated substantial global interest. While elections were once solely viewed as a mechanism for determining political power, their significance has evolved significantly. This transformation has been particularly evident since the 43rd American Presidential Elections in 2000, which brought about significant developments. As a result, elections have shifted from the periphery of political and academic discourse to its very core. Their prominence continues to surge, garnering ever-increasing attention worldwide. In virtually all countries around the world, governments are established through elections, except for those under dictatorships. The world's diverse political and historical backgrounds, along with unique political traditions, have led to the acceptance of various election systems. These differences have resulted in the adoption of different methods and models for conducting elections. The aim is to ensure that voter preferences are accurately and freely reflected in the results. Therefore, elections require autonomous and institutional structures specific to each democratic country. These structures should be established using democratic methods, equipped with technological infrastructure, and staffed with experts selected based on merit. Importantly, they must operate independently from political influence, safeguarding their social reputation. To achieve truly fair and free elections, it is imperative that the institutions and boards responsible for managing and overseeing elections possess effective mechanisms for management and supervision. The nature of election management and supervision activities varies from one country to another, primarily due to differences in the election management and supervision models adopted by these countries. Despite these differences, all of these models share a common objective: to effectively facilitate the expression of the voters' will at the ballot box and prevent any unlawful activities during the electoral process. In this sense, these institutions and boards bear significant responsibilities in upholding the sustainability of democracy. The effective performance of these institutions and boards is vital for ensuring that the election process is conducted and concluded in a manner that is both fair and free. In today's world, where technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, have a direct impact on individuals and their preferences, people's political inclinations and their ability to exercise those preferences are also influenced by this interaction. Global trends show a shift from traditional voting methods to electronic voting methods due to this interaction. While electronic voting methods offer convenience to both voters and the institutions responsible for election management and oversight, they also face certain challenges that are the focal point of ongoing discussions. Nevertheless, electronic election methods continue to grow in prevalence daily. The objective of this study, which aims to comprehensively examine the operation of election management and control from a comparative law perspective, is to contribute to democracy and promote democratic awareness at an academic level. Our intention is to provide recommendations for a more effective election management and control mechanism to ensure fair and free elections. In this context, we hope that our international study proves beneficial to academics, practitioners, and anyone with an interest in this subject, considering the limited research conducted in this field worldwide.