EIIElection Integrity Index

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 180bis addresses the registration procedures for Belgian voters living abroad through consular posts, including application forms, voter modes, and appeals processes. It contains no provisions regarding downloadable public packages, certificates, device records, or result signatures that would be required for public verification of election results.

No matching sections in corpus.

The section establishes a paper ballot system where ballots are counted and tracked through documented procedures, with all counts recorded in official minutes. This creates a voter-verifiable paper trail requirement through the mandatory use of physical ballots and official documentation of results.

“Les bulletins de chaque catégorie sont comptés successivement par deux membres du bureau.”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 162 describes procedural steps for tallying and transmitting election results (insertion of tallying data into minutes, public proclamation of results, sealing of documents), but it does not address whether citizens have a legal right to re-tally from published precinct data. The section is procedurally focused on official conduct rather than citizen verification rights.

The statute mandates sealing of the ballot box (urne) and specifies sealed envelopes for ballot materials, which constitutes a tamper-evident requirement. However, the law does not specify technical standards for the seals, logging mechanisms, or any tamper-responsive procedures beyond physical sealing.

No matching sections in corpus.

The section requires that ballots be kept in sealed envelopes until counting begins, which represents a basic custody control measure. However, the statute does not require comprehensive chain-of-custody documentation or specify that such documentation must be public. It addresses physical security of ballots but not the documentation and public availability aspects central to the criterion.

“Les bulletins sont conservés sous enveloppe fermée jusqu'au début des opérations de dépouillement.”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 200 addresses criminal penalties for tampering with ballots and vote counts during voting and counting procedures, not for unauthorized access to devices or hardware. The criterion asks about criminal penalties for unauthorized device access, which is a distinct topic not covered by this ballot-tampering provision.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 129 addresses the printing, distribution, and verification of ballot papers before and during the election process. It does not establish or require a post-election audit. The verification mentioned concerns ballot counts during the counting process, not a post-election audit of election results.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 129 addresses the printing, distribution, and physical handling of ballots before and during voting, as well as the delivery of tally forms to counting bureaus. It contains no provisions regarding post-election audit methods, risk-limiting audits, hand recounts, comparison audits, or any verification procedures after the vote count.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 95 of the Belgian Electoral Code addresses the composition and designation of electoral bureaus (polling station and counting station officials) at the canton level. It contains no provisions regarding audit triggers, close margin procedures, or mechanisms for audits based on sworn challenges. The section is entirely focused on the administrative structure of electoral bureaus and personnel selection.

The section permits designated witnesses to attend sessions of the main cantonal bureau, which provides some form of observer access to proceedings. However, the section addresses witness designation and ballot counting procedures rather than specifically establishing post-election audit observation rights for parties, media, and citizens more broadly. The observer access is limited to designated witnesses rather than explicitly guaranteeing access to parties, media, and general citizens.

“Les témoins désignés pour assister aux séances du bureau principal de canton peuvent y être présents.”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 178 addresses the procedural treatment of candidates who die before, during, or after election day, and the succession of alternates to fill vacant seats. It does not concern post-election audit procedures, audit results, or the binding force of audits on certified election results. This section is entirely outside the scope of criterion 3.5.

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

Article 131 grants party-designated witnesses (témoins) comprehensive procedural rights including examination of electoral lists and documents, ability to sign official records, challenge assessor designations, file complaints, and observe the ballot-marking process. These provisions establish robust procedural access for party observers throughout voting and counting operations.

The section permits international observers from organizations Belgium has joined, but does not grant automatic admission by default. Instead, it requires explicit accreditation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs based on criteria set by the King, with applications submitted 6-20 weeks in advance. This discretionary approval process does not satisfy the criterion of 'admitted by default.'

The section requires that vote tallies and elected names be disseminated electronically and publicly proclaimed, which supports transparency. However, it does not specify any time limit (24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week) for publication, only that results must be made public. Without an explicit timeline requirement, the criterion cannot be fully satisfied.

“Le résultat du recensement général des votes et les noms des élus sont diffusés de manière électronique et sont proclamés publiquement.”

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

No matching sections in corpus.

This section mandates that election officials and poll workers take an oath to maintain the secrecy of votes ('garder le secret des votes'). The oath requirement is legally binding and enforceable through the formal swearing-in procedure described, with the oath being documented in official records. This legal guarantee of vote secrecy is a foundational protection for voter-ballot unlinkability.

“Je jure de recenser fidèlement les suffrages et de garder le secret des votes.”

The section provides a specific accommodation for voters with disabilities—allowing accompaniment by a person of their choice—but does not establish comprehensive accessibility standards across vision, motor, and language domains, nor does it mandate physical accessibility features at polling places. The accommodation is discretionary (contingent on presidential authorization) rather than guaranteed.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 147bis addresses proxy voting procedures and eligibility criteria for voters to designate a proxy, but contains no provisions regarding polling-place density, the minimum number of polling places per voters or geographic area, or any floor standard for polling-place distribution. The section is entirely procedural regarding the mechanics of proxy voting.