Category: Furtherment of Democracy
Strength: Mild
The General Assembly
Acknowledging the great strides made by this body and individual member states in furthering democracy,
Noting that it is not within the power of this body to extend the right to vote to citizens of all member states,
However concerned that any further WA legislation regarding elections will discourage further democratisation,
Also noting the indivisible right of sovereign nations to choose their own form of government,
And wishing to establish a method by which international election monitors can review and report upon a member state’s elections to further encourage dialogue and commerce between member states,
Hereby
1) Mandates that no member state may directly interfere with another member state’s elections unless requested by the subject member state,
2) Expands the role of the Organization for Electoral Assistance to:
(a) Establish a methodology on certification of elections and electoral systems based upon how free, fair, transparent and regular the elections and electoral systems are,
(b) Upon the request of the government of a member state, to monitor that member state’s election(s) and electoral process, and to certify the election(s) and electoral system pursuant to the criteria above,
3) Reserves to individual member states, within the requirements of existing international law, the power to create, implement, amend and repeal electoral laws, rules, regulations and guidelines regarding elections held within member states.
OOC: Firstly, the title is up in the air. Secondly, the whole thing is IMO perilously close to being in breach of the rule about blocking a whole category and thirdly, the whole thing is perilously close to breaching the committee only rule. Though hopefully we can make something of it if there is some support for the idea.
The problem I wish to address here is the various proposals we have seen in recent times which seek to either impose restrictions on nations on how they run their own internal democracy. We have had proposals regarding the ex-cons voting, free and fair elections and the current debate regarding compulsory voting. I find it objectionable that the WA would even consider any of these things when it has not yet even established a right to vote. While I well realise that the WA cannot do so due to the ideological ban rule, within an RP mode, I would say that until we address such an issue we should not be skirting around the edges. I hope the above can be turned into an effective blocker on the issue.
Also, I really don't like the fact that any such proposal restricting or instructing democratic member nations on their own internal democracy can be voted on by the non-democratic nations, IE if you are a totalitarian dictatorship, please don't tell us how to run our elections.