Wahlen

Wahlen, or elections, are formal processes in which eligible citizens select representatives or decide on public policy. They are a core mechanism of democracy, providing legitimacy to government and accountability to the people.

Elements commonly involved include voter eligibility and registration, campaigning, casting ballots, vote counting, and the formal certification of results; some systems also use runoff rounds to determine winners.

Rights and access: universal or broad suffrage is a hallmark of modern democracies. Typical requirements include citizenship, residency, and an age threshold (often 18). Voting is usually secret, and equal suffrage is a guiding principle, with nondiscrimination guarantees on race, gender, and other statuses.

Types of elections include general elections for national or regional legislatures or executives, local elections for municipalities and cantons, and elections to supranational bodies. Referendums or plebiscites may accompany representative elections. In federal or decentralized states, multiple elections can occur on different schedules.

Methods and systems: voting can be by paper ballots, electronic means, or mail-in ballots. Electoral systems vary, with proportional representation, mixed systems, or majoritarian rules shaping how votes translate into seats; thresholds may limit party representation.

Standards and challenges: free and fair elections require transparency, equal access, independent electoral authorities, and protection against manipulation. International organizations monitor elections and issue guidelines. Common issues include turnout variation, disinformation, disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, and the integrity of the voter registry.

History: modern elections emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, expanding from restricted suffrage to universal suffrage and broad citizen participation in governance.