مبانی نظری نظارت بر انتخابات شوراهای محلی در نظام های حقوقی متمرکز و نیمه متمرکز

مهدي  شفيعي; سید حسین ملکوتی هشجین; محمد  مظهری; آیت  مولایی

Authors

Mehdi Shafiei Department of Public Law, International Campus, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8696-4053
Seyed Hossein Malakooti Hashjin Associate Professor, Department of Law, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3111-0136
Mohammad Mazhari Associate Professor, Department of Law, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2343-6400
Ayat Moulaei Associate Professor, Department of Law, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7084-1890

Keywords:

Electoral supervision, local councils, administrative centralization, local self, government, rule of law, judicial supervision

Abstract

Supervision over local council elections constitutes one of the fundamental mechanisms for safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes at the local level and, at the same time, serves as an instrument for preserving the coherence of the public law system. The manner in which such supervision is organized largely depends on the structure through which power is distributed within legal systems. The present study aims to analyze the theoretical foundations and models of supervision over local council elections in centralized and semi-centralized legal systems and seeks to answer the question of how differences in the centralization or decentralization of power affect the nature, competent authority, and criteria of electoral supervision. The research hypothesis is based on the proposition that, in centralized systems, supervision over council elections is predominantly exercised within the framework of the administrative hierarchy and is characterized by an authority-oriented approach, whereas in semi-centralized systems, such supervision tends to shift toward legal and judicial mechanisms grounded in the rule of law. This study employs a descriptive-analytical method with a comparative approach. In addition to examining Iranian regulations, the legal systems of France and Germany are considered as prominent comparative examples. The findings indicate that the theoretical foundations of supervision in centralized systems are primarily based on preserving the unity of state authority, administrative coherence, and administrative tutelage, whereas in semi-centralized systems, principles such as local self-government, decentralization in decision-making, and the rule of law form the basis for designing supervisory mechanisms. Accordingly, a transformation in the theoretical foundations of supervision from an authority-oriented model toward a law-oriented model can play an important role in strengthening local democracy, enhancing electoral transparency, and increasing public trust in local institutions.

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