BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR ENSURING THE ACTIVITIES OF ELECTION COMMISSIONS

Abstract

In this work, the author analyzes the concept of principles, and also determines the list of basic principles for ensuring the activities of election commissions in Ukraine and justifies their importance for the proper regulation of the activities of these entities. The principles of law not only determine the ideological direction of the development of legal regulation, but also have normative significance, since they serve as a criterion for assessing legality, a means of overcoming gaps in legislation and a guideline in law enforcement. They ensure the stability of the legal system, while allowing it to respond flexibly to new social challenges. Thus, it is noted that the activities of election commissions cannot be effective without clear legal and organizational guidelines, which are principles and regulatory frameworks. They determine the content and direction of the commissions' activities, create conditions for their independence, objectivity and responsibility. According to the author, the activities of election commissions are based on a combination of general legal principles (rule of law, legality, equality, publicity) and special electoral principles (free elections, equal suffrage, openness and transparency of election procedures, impartiality of commission members, collegiality of decision-making). These principles determine the standards of election commissions' activities, acting as a guarantee of fairness and trust in the electionresults. Compliance with such principles as legality, rule of law, independence, collegiality, openness, professionalism and impartiality is a prerequisite for the legitimacy of elections and the stability of democratic institutions. Deviation from these principles inevitably leads to a decrease in public trust, political tension and delegitimization of the results of the expression of will. The paper argues that the need for strict adherence to the principles and regulatory frameworks of the activities of election commissions is due to their systemic impact on the entire election process - from the organization of elections and vote counting to the establishment of results and their official publication.