Electoral sovereignty as the basis of democracy

Abstract

The people’s right to determine their future, the basis of popular sovereignty, is the fundamental organizing principle of modern democratic society and the foundation of democracy. In this paper, the generic concept of electoral sovereignty is understood as state sovereignty, which can manifest in various forms and across different legal categories. Popular sovereignty cannot exist apart from the state; it generates state sovereignty and becomes a principle of the constitutional order and a component in legitimizing the state power. State sovereignty, as a defining characteristic of a state, may be present to varying degrees. Encroachments on state sovereignty constitute, in effect, attacks on popular sovereignty and democracy. However, external attempts to influence the people’s free will have become commonplace in electoral practice and are growing increasingly sophisticated.