An election is the process by which candidates are selected or re-elected for a position. Most often, the concept of elections is applied in relation to deputies and officials of state bodies or local self-government bodies. This is one of the main forms of expression of the will of the people, the most important institution of modern democracy. Elections are held by voting at special points. Citizens who have reached the age of majority are allowed to this process.
The exercise of their suffrage by citizens is the most important form of their participation in government. The corresponding procedure and rules for holding elections are usually enshrined in the constitutions of countries. Participation in elections is not just a constitutional right, it is an event that requires political responsibility from the participants. Such responsibility for the decisions made forms the legal and political culture of the electorate and voters.
Elections can be parliamentary or presidential, general or partial, national or local, one-party, multi-party or non-party, regular or early, alternative or non-alternative, direct or indirect. In direct elections, deputies or officials are elected by the population. For example, in our country, elections of the President of the Russian Federation, deputies of the State Duma, and representative bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are direct. With indirect - the population elects electors, who, in turn, elect the appropriate persons. In the United States, citizens elect electors, and they already elect the President.
All modern democracies hold elections, but not all elections are democratic. Sometimes only one candidate participates with no alternative. Such elections are accompanied by intimidation and falsification. Free democratic elections are possible if there is an alternative, freedom to conduct an election campaign and freedom of expression of the will of voters. They must be universal, equal, direct and by secret ballot.
The elected positions are held by the elected during the time specified in the law, after this period a new election campaign is organized. The outcome of an election campaign is determined by the results of voting. Therefore, high requirements are imposed on the voting procedure. The voting booths are equipped in such a way as to ensure the secrecy of the expression of will. Election ballots are issued strictly upon presentation of a passport so that it is impossible to vote several times. Ballot boxes are sealed, the results are recorded in the protocol, the presence of independent observers is mandatory.
Elections begin with the nomination of candidates. Each candidate must apply to the commission and submit for consideration the minutes of the meetings and his statement of desire to run. Then the collection of signatures begins, registration of signature lists and verification of their authenticity. These procedures are required for the initial registration of candidates.
A successful signature collection is an important but insufficient basis for the registration of a candidate. In addition, he must provide information about property, income. Then the final registration takes place, that is, the receipt of the candidate's certificate. Only after this is pre-election campaigning allowed, which includes the election program, press conferences, meetings with voters, visual campaigning, televised debates, rallies, and so on.
The campaign ends a day before the vote. Then the elections take place directly, which consist of voluntary participation, secret ballot, counting of votes and announcement of the voting results. Each vote is treated equally. A single vote can ensure success for a candidate.
After that, information from each polling station is delivered to the territorial election commissions. The main purpose of these bodies is to control the conduct of elections and announce the results. At the end of the counting of votes, the commission draws up a protocol in which the figures of the voting results are indicated. The victory or loss of candidates depends on these numbers.
