Review article
https://doi.org/10.31141/zrpfs.2025.62.157.419
Problems in the Implementation of the Principle of Equality in the Electoral Law of The Republic of Croatia
Vedran Zlatić
orcid.org/0000-0002-9297-5192
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu
Josip Lucijan Boban
orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-7378
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu
Pavle Arbanas
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu
Abstract
In this paper the fundamental principles of electoral law in democratic systems and their concrete
application the within the Republic of Croatia are analyzed. Croatian electoral legislation is based
on the free, general, equal, direct, and confidential right to vote for all Croatian citizens over the age
of 18. Nevertheless, special emphasis is placed on the achievement of the principle of equality of
the electoral vote when it comes to the design and organization of the electoral system. This should
ensure that the actual expressed will of the voters in the elections is reflected in the formation of
democratically elected bodies. Therefore, how the design of the electoral system at the national and local level of the Republic of Croatia affects the transfer of the will of the electorate into concrete
election results is demonstrated. Finally, the authors of this paper conclude that, in the Republic of
Croatia, the biggest challenges in terms of ensuring achievement of the principle of equality of the
electoral vote for all citizens are manifested precisely in parliamentary elections. This is so because
of the division of the state territory into 10 electoral districts, which, given that they provide an
equal number of representatives in the Croatia parliament, should have an equal number of voters.
On the other hand, the analyzed ratios of the number of councilors and the different numbers of
inhabitants of individual local government units in local elections are not the result of a violation of
the principle of equality of the electoral vote, but rather a consequence of the excessive complexity
and fragmentation of the local self-government system in the Republic of Croatia
Keywords
principles of electoral law; principle of equality of the electoral vote; parliamentary elections; Constitutional Court; local elections
Hrčak ID:
340169
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2025.
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