What Constitutes a Free and Fair Election?

freedom of speech and expression by electors, parties, candidates and the media;
freedom of association; that is, freedom to form organizations such as political parties and NGOs;
freedom of assembly, to hold political rallies and to campaign;
freedom of access to and by electors to transmit and receive political and electoral information messages;
freedom to register as an elector, a party or a candidate;
freedom from violence, intimidation or coercion;
freedom of access to the polls by electors, party agents and accredited observers;
freedom to exercise the franchise in secret, and
freedom to question, challenge and register complaints or objections without negative repercussions.

an independent, non-partisan electoral organization to administer the process;
guaranteed rights and protection through the constitution and electoral legislation and regulations;
equitable representation of electors provided through the legislation;
equitable and balanced reporting by the media;
equitable access to financial and material resources for party and candidate campaigning;
equitable opportunities for the electorate to receive political and voter information;
accessible polling places;
equitable treatment of electors, candidates and parties by elections officials, the government, the police, the military and the judiciary;
an open and transparent ballot counting process, and
election process not disrupted by violence, intimidations or coercion.