Guide on Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 – Right to free elections
Table of contents
Note to readers .................................................................................................................... 4
I. General principles .............................................................................................................. 5
A. Meaning and scope ................................................................................................................. 5
B. Principles of interpretation ...................................................................................................... 7
II. Active aspect: the right to vote ........................................................................................ 8
A. Loss of civic rights .................................................................................................................... 8
B. Specific case of prisoners ......................................................................................................... 9
C. Residence, condition of access to voting rights ...................................................................... 11
1. Right of citizens residing abroad to vote .......................................................................... 11
2. Particular case of certain territories ................................................................................. 11
3. Organisation of elections abroad for non-resident nationals ............................................ 12
III. Passive aspect: the right to stand for election ............................................................... 14
A. Inability to stand for election and the democratic order ........................................................ 15
B. Importance of historical context ............................................................................................ 16
C. Organisation of elections ....................................................................................................... 16
1. Guaranteeing serious candidatures: the deposit requirement .......................................... 17
2. Avoiding excessive fragmentation of the political landscape ............................................ 17
D. Other legitimate aims ............................................................................................................ 20
E. From the election campaign................................................................................................... 22
F. ...to the exercise of office....................................................................................................... 23
IV. Electoral disputes .......................................................................................................... 26
V. Effective remedies .......................................................................................................... 29
List of cited cases ................................................................................................................ 31
European Court of Human Rights
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Last update: 30.04.2021