COVID-19 and Elections
The current health emergency has posed significant challenges for the organization of elections. Limitations on assemblies complexify campaigning and monitoring efforts, and in-person voting is restricted.
According to IDEA International, at least 75 countries and territories across the globe have decided to postpone national and subnational elections due to COVID-19, out of which at least 40 countries and territories have decided to postpone national elections and referendums.
In a bid to address the integrity of electoral processes amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Special Rapporteur has prepared a set of guidelines that will help States ensure that electoral processes under the current health threat respect and fulfill FoAA rights:
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Consult the Guidelines on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association in the context of Elections and the Covid-19 crisis
- Spanish Version
- French version
These guidelines were produced following consultation in July 2020 with experts from around the world, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of American States, the Community of Democracies, and the World Movement for Democracy, International (IDEA), The Carter Center, National Democratic Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
Participants agreed that one of the most critical impacts of the coronavirus outbreak has been the postponement of elections around the globe. Physical distancing requirements during the pandemic have not only limited election campaigning but also added barriers to voter access and transparency, risking the integrity of the electoral process in many countries.
Designing appropriate electoral approaches in the context of the current global pandemic is complex, and that there are no easy solutions” Clement Voule said. “In light of these challenging circumstances, it is all the more important, that freedom of expression is respected and that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association online are fully ensured.”
The guidelines also address the way in which states are working with civil society and international organizations to ensure the integrity of elections and enjoyment of FoAA rights in the process.
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