Democracies thrive on assembly, transparency and confidence in elections and government institutions – all of which are put at risk by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries on the African continent have grappled with a gravely important decision in 2020: whether to delay elections as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to modify election processes to minimize the risk of transmission.

It is inevitable in some contexts that decisions to postpone elections or modify electoral processes will become politicized and may be challenged in the courts. Courts may be asked to render a judgment on the legal validity of emergency powers, election postponements, the introduction of new rules governing election processes, and other election disputes that arise as elections take place.

This second meeting of the African Electoral Jurisprudence Network will be an opportunity for judges in countries that have completed or are facing elections to share relevant judgments, and any challenges around election laws and emergency powers in their own jurisdictions.