I. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS RELATED TO ELECTIONS A. The United Nations UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Article 21 1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. 2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country. 3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of governement ; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be held by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS Article 25 Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions : (a) to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives ; (b) to vote and to 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 ; (c) to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country. B. The Council of Europe PROTOCOL N°1 TO THE EUROPEAN 14 AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Article 3 The High Contracting Parties undertake to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature. 14 Paris, 20 March 1952. 26