37 The North Macedonia Law on Government foresees the formation of a transitional government 100 days before parliamentary elections are held, in order to administer the electoral process. Id. 38 Article 125 of the North Macedonia Constitution provides that state of emergency exists when major natural disasters or epidemics take place. A state of emergency on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia or on part thereof is determined by the Assembly on a proposal by the president of the republic, the government or by at least 30 representatives. The decision to establish the existence of a state of emergency is made by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of representatives and can remain in force for a maximum of 30 days. If the Assembly cannot meet, the decision to establish the existence of a state of emergency is made by the president of the republic, who submits it to the Assembly for confirmation as soon as it can meet. See Const. art. 125 (N. Maced.). Article 126 provides that, during a state of war or emergency, the government, in accordance with the Constitution and law, issues decrees with the force of law. The authorization of the government to issue decrees with the force of law lasts until the termination of the state of war or emergency, on which the Assembly decides. See Const. art. 126 (N. Maced.). Article 127 provides that, during the state of war, if the Assembly cannot meet, the president of the republic may appoint and discharge the government, as well as appoint or dismiss officials whose election is within the sphere of competence of the Assembly. See Const. art. 127 (N. Maced.). 39 N. Maced L. Gov. art. 10, 36. 40 Anna Desmarais, Fort Liard First Nation postpones election due to COVID-19, CBC (April 22, 4:28 PM), available at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/fort-liard-first-nation-election-covid-1.5541358. 41 Statement of Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, First Nations Election Cancellation and Postponement Regulations (Prevention of Diseases) Coming into Effect (April 16, 2020), available at https:// www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/news/2020/04/statement-by-the-minister-of-indigenousservices-on-the-first-nations-election-cancellation-and-postponement-regulations-prevention-ofdiseases-com.html. 42 Const. art. 93(4)(b) (Eth.) (stipulating that “[t]he Council of Ministers shall have the power to suspend such political and democratic rights contained in this Constitution to the extent necessary to avert the conditions that required the declaration of a state of emergency.”). 43 Const. art. 82 (Eth.) (establishing the CCI). 44 Constitución de 1967 con reformas hasta 2004 [Constitution] art. 77 (Uru.), available at https://www. constituteproject.org/constitution/Uruguay_2004.pdf?lang=en. 45 Corte Electoral [Electoral Court] Apr. 17, 2020, No. 10853 (Uru.), available at https://www. corteelectoral.gub.uy/circular-n-10853. 46 Meredith Applegate, Thomas Chanussot, & Vladlen Basysty, (April 7, 2020). 47 IFES, Guidelines and Recommendations for Electoral Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 19, 2020), avaliable at https://www.ifes.org/sites/default/files/guidelines_and_recommendations_for_ electoral_activities_during_the_covid-19_pandemic_march_2020.pdf. 48 Chad Vickery & Erica Shein, IFES, Assessing Electoral Fraud in New Democracies: Refining the Vocabulary (May 9, 2012), available at https://www.ifes.org/sites/default/files/assessing_electoral_fraud_ series_vickery_shein.pdf. 49 IFES, COVID-19 Briefing Series, https://www.ifes.org/ifes-covid-19-briefing-series, (last visited May 26, 2020). 50 Rachel Kleinfield Belton, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Competing Definitions of the Rule of Law, Implications for Practitioners 16 (2005), available at https://carnegieendowment.org/files/CP55. Belton.FINAL.pdf. 51 Guidelines and Explanatory Report of the European Commission for Democracy Through Law (Venice Commission), No. 190/2002, Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters (October 30, 2002). 52 UNHRC, CCPR General Comment No. 34: Article 19: Freedoms of Opinion and Expression: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, September 13, 2011, CCPR/C/GC/34. International Foundation for Electoral Systems -25-