Published by Globe International in the framework of AUSAID SAS funded “Right to know: Freedom of Information” project.

Right to know-Right to Vote
Handbook for human rights activists and citizens

The handbook provides knowledge for citizens about nature and basic principles of the democratic election and explained how the election is important and responsible process for the development of country if citizen participate in it with the knowledge. Democratic nature of the current and future government and sustainable development of the country depend on the citizens choice. Article 3 of the constitution of Mongolia, approved in 1992, stipulated that “State power shall be vested in the people of Mongolia. The people shall exercise state power through their direct participation in State affairs as well as through the representative bodies of state power elected by them”.
The structure of the handbook contains from Introductory and other 8 sections.
Mongolia passed 4 parliamentary and 3 presidential elections after the new constitution and the handbook that we published recently is come at the right time before the 4th Presidential Election.
In the first section included brief information about the citizen’s right to know. Citizens with information can control the Parliament and the Government on how they fulfill their promises. Information plays a key role in enabling citizens to choice right person for the government.
The second section provides information about the democratic election and its importance. If the citizen has ability to elect official that would present him/her by the form of fair and free then the election would be fair. In this section also included the nature of democratic and non-democratic election.
The third section includes information about the right to elect. Election in Mongolia is conducted in 4 levels, Election of State Great Hural, Presidential Election, Elections of Citizens` Representative Hurals of Aimags, the Capital City, Soums and Districts and Public Elections. The section briefly introduces why these elections are need for citizens.
In the forth section we provides information about the basic principles and criteria of the democratic election. Election shall be based on universal, secret and direct suffrage ballot. There are some limitations prescribed by the laws regarding the principles of universal election. It can be restricted by medical expertise and or court decisions.
In the fifth section talks about how to exercise the right to elect. Citizen of Mongolia shall exercise his/her right to elect personally. There is also explained about how exercise election rights if he/her has excusable reasons to vote.
Sixth section informs citizen about how to obtain information in order to participate in election with the knowledge. Citizen with information can evualute candidates, and take control and express his opinions and lodge camplains. It is also important that citizens with information can control the Parliament and the Government on how they fulfill their promises and protect their rights and so on.
In the seventh section included information on legal guarantees and mechanisms of rigth to elect. Article 19.1. of the Constitution of Mongolia declares that the State shall be responsible to the citizens…..for the prevention of violations of human rights and freedoms and the restoration of infringed rights. And Criminal Code has provinsion if someone intentionally interfere citizen`s rigth to elect and being elected to account it as a crime. There is also included legal procedures to lodge complaints in order to protect their violated rights.
The eigth section briefly mentioned about some issues that citizen should consider. For example, citizen not just to mark on the ballot paper, they should consider all election processes fairness, if they discover unlawful things they have right to demand for cancelation of election results.

Content of the handbook

Publics`right to know
Democratic election and its importance
Right to elect
Basic principles of the democratic election
How to exercise the right to elect
How and where to obtain information in order to participate in election with knowledge
Legal guarantee and mechanism for protection of the right to elect
Recommendation