THE RIGHT TO VOTE ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS AND MECHANISMS (Published)
The right to vote is an important political right, presented as a right and as an opportunity to participate in the governance of the country. Suffrage was a right or a privilege of voting to elect public officials and to adopt or abolish legislation. It is a political institution that existed since ancient times. As a fundamental right, it is mentioned in various international acts, declarations, charters and agreements. This article makes a listing of the documents which in international level provide for the right to vote and to be elected in their texts, referring to free, fair and regular elections that implement democratic legal standards.These documents provide also some international standards on elections, which constitute some criteria and main principles internationally recognised for the determination of free and fair elections. The fulfilment of these standards allows measuring the criteria for democratic elections.
Keywords: International Instruments, Mechanisms, Right to Vote