Electoral Crime in Algerian Legislation: Between Substantive Provisions and the Challenge of Achieving Community Security Requirements

Elections are the legitimate means of expressing the popular will of the people in the selection of their rulers. The right of every individual to participate in choosing those who govern or represent them in the ruling authorities of their state has been enshrined in many international instruments and national legislations, primarily through the rights to vote and run for office. Legal systems have established regulations to govern the electoral process, ensuring safety, integrity and transparency, and thereby guaranteeing the validity and authenticity of the results. These sys-tems grant constitutional and administrative protection and have introduced criminal protections to enhance safe-guarding against electoral crimes at all stages, from registration on electoral lists to the announcement of results. Researchers have highlighted the importance of this topic by shedding light on electoral crime due to its exacerba-tion in the social environment and its harmful effects on community security. In light of the prevalence of these violations and their repercussions, the following legal issue can be raised: To what extent are the criminal provisions in Algerian legislation sufficient to address electoral crime? This research paper first addresses the definition of electoral crime subject to criminal prosecution, then the substantive provisions of electoral crime and the challenges in achieving community security requirements.