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Council of Europe standards in the electoral field

I. Elections 
 
Code of good practice in electoral matters and its interpretative declarations 
  • *[1]Code of good practice in electoral matters CDL-AD(2002)023rev
  • Stability of the electoral law – revised interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2024)027
  • *Women's participation in elections – interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2006)020
  • Participation of persons with disabilities in elections – interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2011)045
  • Publication of lists of voters having participated in elections - interpretative declaration CDL-AD(2016)028
 
Electoral process
 
Synthesis documents 
  • *Electoral law and electoral administration in Europe – synthesis study on recurrent challenges and problematic issues - CDL-AD(2020)023,  *CDL-AD(2006)018 
  • Measures to improve the democratic nature of elections in Council of Europe member states - CDL-AD(2012)005
  • Timeline and inventory of political criteria for assessing an election - CDL-AD(2010)037
  • Europe's electoral heritage -  CDL(2002)007rev

Specific issues

  • Election dispute resolution - CDL-AD(2020)025  
  • Recall of mayors and local elected representatives - CDL-AD(2019)011rev 
  • Term Limits: Part I - Presidents - CDL-AD(2018)010
  • Term Limits: Part II - Members of Parliament; Part III - Representatives and executive officials elected at sub national and local level - CDL-AD(2019)007
  • Preventing and responding to the misuse of administrative resources during electoral processes:
    *Report - CDL-AD(2013)033; Guidelines: CDL-AD(2016)004
  • Democracy, limitation of mandates and incompatibility of political  functions - CDL-AD(2012)027rev
  • Funding of electoral campaigns – opinion on the need for a code of good practice -  CDL-AD(2011)020
  • *Imperative mandate and similar practices - CDL-AD(2009)027
  • *Choosing the date of an election - CDL-AD(2007)037
Electoral systems
  • Proportional electoral systems: the allocation of seats inside the lists (open/closed lists) - CDL-AD(2015)001
  • *Thresholds and other features of electoral systems which bar parties from access to Parliament – report (II) CDL-AD(2010)007
  • *Thresholds and other features of electoral systems which bar parties from access to Parliament – comparative report (I) CDL-AD(2008)037
  • *Electoral systems – overview of available solutions and selection criteria - CDL-AD(2004)003


Right to vote 

 
Affirmative action and similar measures
 
Women 
  • Impact of electoral systems on women’s representation in politics - CDL-AD(2009)029
  • *Declaration on women’s participation in elections - CDL-AD(2006)020
 
National minorities 
  • Dual voting for persons belonging to national minorities - CDL-AD(2008)013
  • *Electoral rules and affirmative action for national minorities’ participation in decision-making process in European countries - CDL-AD(2005)009
  • *Electoral law and national minorities - CDL-INF(2000)004
 
II. Referendums
  • Revised Code of good practice on referendums CDL-AD(2022)015
  • Referendums in Europe – an analysis of the legal rules in European States - CDL-AD(2005)034
  • Tables summarising the replies to the questionnaire on referendums - CDL-AD(2005)034add
  • Tables summarising the replies to the questionnaire on local and regional referendums - CDL-AD(2005)034add2
     
III. Political parties 
  • Method of nomination of candidates in political parties – CDL-AD(2015)020
  • *Political party regulation - Guidelines - CDL-AD(2010)024
  • Code of good practice in the field of political parties - CDL-AD(2009)021
  • *Prohibition of financial contributions to political parties from foreign sources - CDL-AD(2006)014
  • *Participation of political parties in elections - CDL-AD(2006)025
  • Legislation on political parties: some specific issues - Guidelines and explanatory report - CDL-AD(2004)007rev
  • Financing of political parties - Guidelines and report - CDL-INF(2001)008
  • *Prohibition and dissolution of political parties and analogous measures - Guidelines - CDL-INF(2000)001


IV. Election observation and assessment 

  • Identification of electoral irregularities by statistical methods  - CDL-AD(2018)009
  • Declaration of Global Principles for non-partisan election observation and monitoring by citizen organizations and Code of Conduct for non-partisan citizen election observers and monitors -  Initiated by the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM)  - CDL-AD(2012)018
  • Timeline and inventory of political criteria for assessing an election - CDL-AD(2010)037
  • Figure based management of possible election fraud - CDL-AD(2010)043
  • *Cancellation of election results (report) - CDL-AD(2009)054
  • Cancellation of election results (conference proceedings) - CDL-STD(2010)046 
  • Supervising electoral processes - CDL-STD(2010)048
  • *Guidelines on an internationally recognised status of election observers - CDL-AD(2009)059
  • *Guidelines on Media Analysis during Election Observation Missions - CDL-AD(2009)031
  • *Internationally recognised status of election observers - Summary of Recommendations - CDL-AD(2009)026
  • Internationally recognised status of election observers - report - CDL-AD(2009)020rev
  • Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers and Pledge to accompany the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers prepared by the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), and the Carter Center (TCC) - CDL-AD(2005)036
  • Election Evaluation Guide - CDL-AD(2006)021
  • Election Observation Form - CDL-AD(2005)013
  • Electoral Glossary: English – French - CDL-PI(2020)021-bil 

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​1 (*) - document available in Russian as well.

 

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