Bahá’i election is regarded not only as a right enjoined on every Bahá’í believer who is 21 years of age or more, but a spiritual obligation contributing both to the health and growth of the Bahá’i community and the betterment of society.
Bahá’ís when participating in a Bahá’i election are “aware that they are carrying out a sacred task unique to this Dispensation. They should approach this duty in a prayerful attitude, seeking divine guidance and confirmation. As Shoghi Effendi has advised, “they must turn completely to God, and with a purity of motive, a freedom of spirit and a sanctity of heart, participate in the elections.” – The Universal House of Justice, Letter on Bahá’i Election to the Baha’is of the World.
The Scope of Bahá’i Election
Bahá’i election applies to local (city, town, or regional), national and international institutions of the Bahá’í Faith. As such, the electors and those eligible for being elected (Link it to the topic “Characteristics of Elected Individuals” in this document) are defined according to the scope of the election.
The major institutions of the Bahá’í Faith are:
Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs) whose members are elected annually through an Annual General Meeting,
National Spiritual Assembly whose members are elected through a yearly National Convention. The delegates to the National Convention are composed of delegates elected through Unit Conventions held locally based on the size of the Bahá’i community in each locality,
The Universal House of Justice, which is elected through an International Convention by the entire membership of the national assemblies across the globe.
At all levels of administration, electors vote for nine individuals because there are nine members in each of these institutions. Electors write the individual names of exactly nine eligible Bahá’ís, without repeating. The nine Bahá’ís with the most votes are elected. In cases of tie votes for the ninth position (for example), a run-off election is held (unless one of the tied candidates is a member of a minority (Link it to the “Bahá’i Election and the Minority” in this Document) in the community and is deemed elected).
Also, only residents within the jurisdiction of the institution being elected are eligible for membership. Generally, adult Bahá’ís in good standing residing within the jurisdiction form both the electorate (either directly or through delegation) and the pool of potential members to serve on the institution being elected.
Baha’is can cast their votes through postal / absentee ballots or in person in conformity with the Bahá’i electoral procedure.
The local elections are once a year on the First Day of the Ridván Festival representing the anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of his prophetic mission to his followers (about April 20 or 21).
The National elections are done annually through a National Convention, while the international election of The Universal House of Justice is held on a five-yearly interval elected by all national assemblies across the globe.
Bahá’i Electoral System
The Bahá’i electoral system is distinctly different from political processes across the globe where individuals, or those who nominate them, decide to put themselves forward to be voted for. In the Bahá’i system, “it is the mass of the electorate which makes the decision. If an individual ostentatiously places himself in the public eye with the seeming purpose of getting people to vote for him, the members of the electorate regard this as self-conceit and are affronted by it; they learn to distinguish between someone who is well known as an unintentional result of active public service and someone who makes an exhibition of himself merely to attract votes.” – The Universal House of Justice, cited in The Sanctity and Nature of Bahá’í Elections.
The Aim of the Bahá’i Electoral System
The aim of the Bahá’i electoral system is to create unity, trust, and collaboration between the electors and the institutions of governance and to eliminate corruption in the electoral process. According to the Bahá’i Faith, Institutions whose membership are elected through Bahá’í election will uphold standards of Justice, commitment to oneness of mankind, ability to promote change, and advancement of the world civilisation in alignment with the New World Order brought to humanity by Bahá’u’lláh.
Characteristics of Bahá’i Electoral System
The Bahá’i electoral system whose mechanics and more importantly its underlying operational principles set forth by Shoghi Effendi is one of the distinguishing elements of the Bahá’i Administrative Order.
Shoghi Effendi sternly prohibited partisan politics and certain other practices currently common in western democracies such as campaigning and nomination. Shoghi Effendi wrote: “Bahá’í electoral procedures and methods have, indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer of the spirit of responsibility. . . To be able to make a wise choice at the election time, it is necessary for him to be in close and continued contact with all of his fellow-believers, to keep in touch with all local activities, be they teaching, administrative or otherwise, and to fully and whole-heartedly participate in the affairs of the local as well as national committees and Assemblies in his country. It is only in this way that a believer can develop a true social consciousness, and acquire a true sense of responsibility in matters affecting the interests of the Cause. Bahá’í community life thus makes it a duty for every loyal and faithful believer to become an intelligent, well-informed and responsible elector, and also gives him the opportunity of raising himself to such a station. And since the practice of nomination hinders the development of such qualities in the believer, and in addition leads to corruption and partisanship, it has to be entirely discarded in all Bahá’í elections. – The Light of Divine Guidance: The Messages from the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith to the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria”, vol. 1, Letter of 4 February 1935, pp. 67-68 (Hofheim-Langenhain: Bahá’í-Verlag, 1982).
Further, Shoghi Effendi urged Bahá’ís that “without reference or application, however indirect, to particular individuals” should discuss the requirements and qualifications for membership of the institution to be elected.
Necessary Qualities of Elected Individuals
Shoghi Effendi described that “it is incumbent upon the chosen delegates to consider without the least trace of passion and prejudice, and irrespective of any material consideration, the names of only those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.”
Bahá’ís are advised to carefully, and over a period of time – normally one year between elections of local, regional and national institutions – decide on the choicest individuals who can serve the best in the Bahá’i Institutions.
“From among the pool of those whom the elector believes to be qualified to serve, selection should be made with due consideration given to such other factors as age distribution, diversity, and gender. The elector should make his choice after careful thought over an extended period before the actual election.” – The Sanctity and Nature of Bahá’í Elections. Normally those elected are expected to serve over the period of membership, but in cases of extreme personal difficulty, such a member may request the institution to which they are elected to excuse him or her.
Bahá’i Election and the Party Representing the Minority
In the event of a tying vote for the last places, if one of these individuals belongs to a minority, this individual is automatically given the priority to serve (for example in Australia original inhabitants of the land). If this is unclear, or if there is disagreement as to whether the minority rule applies, a run-off election is held in which votes are cast only for one of those tied.
“If any discrimination is at all to be tolerated, it should be a discrimination not against, but rather in favor of the minority, be it racial or otherwise … every organised community enlisted under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh should feel it to be its first and inescapable obligation to nurture, encourage, and safeguard every minority belonging to any faith, race, class, or nation within it. So great and vital is this principle that in such circumstances, as when an equal number of ballots have been cast in an election, or where the qualifications for any office are balanced as between the various races, faiths or nationalities within the community, priority should unhesitatingly be accorded the party representing the minority, and this for no other reason except to stimulate and encourage it, and afford it an opportunity to further the interests of the community …” – Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 35. 25 December 1938.
Read More
The Sanctity and Nature of Bahá’í Elections, A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, December 1989.
Bahá’i Administration
The Advent of Divine Justice