Election silence

In some jurisdictions, such as Slovenia, Poland and Nepal, it is forbidden to try to convince people to vote for a specific candidate or political party on the day of election.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}

Some jurisdictions have declared that, legally, election silence violates the right to freedom of speech. However, some countries use it to "balance out the campaigning and maintain a free voting environment". The goal is to give voters a chance to reflect, free of external pressures, before casting their votes. During this period, no active campaigning by the candidates is allowed. Often polling is also banned.

{{More citations needed|section|date=April 2019}}

Election silences are observed in:

• Armenia (24 hours){{Cite web |url=http://res.elections.am/images/doc/_ecode.pdf |title=Electoral Code of Armenia |access-date=2012-05-05 |archive-date=2019-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819070724/http://res.elections.am/images/doc/_ecode.pdf |url-status=live }}
• Argentina (48 hours)
• Australia (ban on TV and radio advertising from midnight on the Wednesday before polling day to the close of polls on polling day—always a Saturday){{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/collections/publications-of-the-law-library-of-congress/about-this-collection/|title=About this Collection | Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) | Digital Collections | Library of Congress|website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA|accessdate=18 March 2023|archive-date=5 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605142921/https://www.loc.gov/collections/publications-of-the-law-library-of-congress/about-this-collection/|url-status=live}}
• Azerbaijan (24 hours before voting)
• Bahrain (24 hours before voting){{cite web|url=https://www.vote.bh/en/election-campaigns|access-date=15 April 2023|website=vote.bh|title=Election campaigns|archive-date=10 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110122256/https://www.vote.bh/en/election-campaigns|url-status=dead}}
• Barbados (polling day and previous){{Cite web |url=http://aceproject.org/main/samples/me/mex04.pdf |title=Barbados Law on Election Broadcasting |access-date=2012-11-06 |archive-date=2005-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051111014431/http://www.aceproject.org/main/samples/me/mex04.pdf |url-status=live }}
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (24 hours)
• Brazil (ban on TV and radio advertising from 20:40 on the Thursday before polling day to the close of polls on polling day–always a Sunday; the same applies for runoffs){{cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/eleicoes/2020/noticia/2020/10/08/eleicoes-2020-propaganda-eleitoral-no-radio-e-na-tv-comeca-nesta-sexta-feira-veja-regras.ghtml|title=Eleições 2020: propaganda eleitoral no rádio e na TV começa nesta sexta-feira; veja regras|website=G1|language=pt|date=8 October 2020|accessdate=23 March 2021|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221202930/https://g1.globo.com/politica/eleicoes/2020/noticia/2020/10/08/eleicoes-2020-propaganda-eleitoral-no-radio-e-na-tv-comeca-nesta-sexta-feira-veja-regras.ghtml|url-status=live}}
• Bulgaria (24 hours in advance of polling day and on polling day){{Cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/WorkingGroups/workinggroup4/2012-August-27-29/Responses_NVs_2012/20120419_Bulgaria_English_4.pdf |title=Bulgaria Election Code |access-date=2013-05-24 |archive-date=2021-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214061406/https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/WorkingGroups/workinggroup4/2012-August-27-29/Responses_NVs_2012/20120419_Bulgaria_English_4.pdf |url-status=live }}
• Cambodia (48 hours, on the eve "White Day" and polling day, alcohol selling ban also applied)
• Canada (advertising banned before polls close on polling day){{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Canada Elections Act |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/e-2.01/page-25.html?wbdisable=true |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Justice Laws |publisher=Department of Justice |page=25 |postscript=. Original version published May 31, 2000. Last modified June 29, 2021. |archive-date=June 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623201047/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/e-2.01/page-25.html?wbdisable=true |url-status=live }}
• Croatia (from 00:00 on the preceding day until the polling stations close){{cite web|url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=1876|title=Hrvatski sabor|access-date=2010-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930035758/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=1876|archive-date=2017-09-30|url-status=dead}}
• Cyprus (48 hours){{cite news|title=Cyprus enters dome of silence ahead of election|url=https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-enters-dome-of-silence-ahead-of-election|access-date=31 October 2021|date=28 May 2021|work=Kathimerini|archive-date=28 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928154516/https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-enters-dome-of-silence-ahead-of-election|url-status=live}}
• Czech Republic (3 days){{Cite web |date=2 March 2018 |title=Media and Elections: Czech Republic |url=https://aceproject.org/epic-en/CDCountry?set_language=en&topic=ME&country=CZ |access-date=27 November 2022 |website=ACE Electoral Knowledge Network |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206063158/https://aceproject.org/epic-en/CDCountry?set_language=en&topic=ME&country=CZ |url-status=live }}
• Egypt (48 hours)
• Fiji (48 hours){{Cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.fj/|title=The Electoral Commission Fiji – The Electoral Commission Fiji|accessdate=18 March 2023|archive-date=6 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306150132/https://www.electoralcommission.org.fj/|url-status=live}}
• France (on the Saturday before the Sunday election; polling silence included)
• Greece (48 hours)
• Hungary (from 00:00 on the preceding day){{cite web|url=http://www.mkab.hu/content/en/en3/6_2007.pdf|title=Alkotmánybíróság - Kezdőlap|access-date=2008-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620110607/http://www.mkab.hu/content/en/en3/6_2007.pdf|archive-date=2015-06-20|url-status=dead}}
• India (48 to 24 hours in advance of polling day and on polling day)
• Indonesia (3 days before voting day){{Cite web |url=http://www.anfrel.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IFES-Indonesia-Unofficial-Translation-of-Law-82012-on-Legislative-Elections-v1_2012-06-14.pdf |title=Law of the Republic of Indonesia |access-date=2016-02-05 |archive-date=2017-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118041221/http://www.anfrel.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IFES-Indonesia-Unofficial-Translation-of-Law-82012-on-Legislative-Elections-v1_2012-06-14.pdf |url-status=live }}
• Ireland (from 14:00 on the preceding day){{Cite web|url=http://www.bai.ie/en/broadcasting-authority-of-ireland-bai-moratorium-on-general-election-coverage/|title=Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) Moratorium on General Election Coverage|date=24 February 2016|access-date=20 April 2017|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629051234/http://www.bai.ie/en/broadcasting-authority-of-ireland-bai-moratorium-on-general-election-coverage/|url-status=live}}
• Israel (from 19:00 on the preceding day){{cite web|url=https://www.nevo.co.il/law_html/law01/190_026.htm#Seif142|title=חוק הבחירות לכנסת|language=he|access-date=2019-04-06|archive-date=2013-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006030948/https://www.nevo.co.il/law_html/law01/190_026.htm#Seif142|url-status=live}} Polls are banned for 5 days before the election. TV and radio ads are banned during campaign beside a concentrated bloc scheduled by the election committee around 2 weeks before the election.
• Italy (from 00:00 on the preceding day), polling banned from 15 days before elections, it is prohibited to say the names of candidates on television in the month before elections (except for TV news programs and regulated electoral advertising)
• Japan (election day)
• Kazakhstan (from 00:00 on the preceding day; releasing opinion polls are prohibited starting from 5 days before the election day){{Cite web |title=On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan - "Adilet" LIS |url=https://adilet.zan.kz/eng/docs/Z950002464_ |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=adilet.zan.kz |archive-date=2022-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902031103/https://adilet.zan.kz/eng/docs/Z950002464_ |url-status=live }}
• Lebanon (starting from zero hours on the day before the parliamentary elections, and until the closing of the polls){{Cite web |title=What is electoral silence? And to what extent is it committed? |url=https://english.sawtbeirut.com/video/what-is-electoral-silence-and-to-what-extent-is-it-committed/ |website=SBI |access-date=2023-05-28 |archive-date=2023-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528212444/https://english.sawtbeirut.com/video/what-is-electoral-silence-and-to-what-extent-is-it-committed/ |url-status=live }}
• Malaysia (election day)
• Malta (from 00:00 on the preceding day until the polls close on election day; since elections always fall on a Saturday, this means that the silence period starts on Friday at midnight)
• Montenegro (48 hours){{Cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=05&dd=22&nav_id=67300 |title=B92 - Election silence begins in Montenegro |access-date=2010-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523184223/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=05&dd=22&nav_id=67300 |archive-date=2010-05-23 |url-status=dead }}
• Mozambique (48 hours for campaigning; polling during the entire campaign period){{Cite web |url=http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/MZ/mocambique-lei-n-7-2007-in-portuguese/at_download/file |title=Mozambique Electoral Law: Electoral Law 7/2007, articles 18, 24, 34 |access-date=2012-11-06 |archive-date=2013-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224053926/http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/MZ/mocambique-lei-n-7-2007-in-portuguese/at_download/file |url-status=live }}
• Nepal (48 hours)
• New Zealand (between 00:00 and 19:00 on election day).{{Cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.nz/rules/parties/party-secretary-handbook-2011/part-4-election-campaigning.html |title=Part 4: Election campaigning | Elections New Zealand |access-date=2012-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023170237/http://www.elections.org.nz/rules/parties/party-secretary-handbook-2011/part-4-election-campaigning.html |archive-date=2012-10-23 |url-status=dead }}
• North Macedonia (from 00:00 on the preceding day)
• Pakistan (24 hours) {{Cite web|url=https://www.ecp.gov.pk/frmGenericPage.aspx?PageID=27=|title=ECP - Election Commission of Pakistan|website=www.ecp.gov.pk|accessdate=18 March 2023|archive-date=31 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231192129/https://www.ecp.gov.pk/frmGenericPage.aspx?PageID=27%3D|url-status=live}}
• Paraguay (48 hours) {{cite web|url=http://www.paraguay.com/nacionales/desde-medianoche-rige-la-veda-electoral-93134|title=Desde medianoche rige la veda electoral - Paraguay.com|access-date=2015-09-02|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924064547/http://www.paraguay.com/nacionales/desde-medianoche-rige-la-veda-electoral-93134|url-status=live}}
• Peru (24 hours) {{cite web|url=https://portal.jne.gob.pe/portal_documentos/files/863dcb2e-6e86-4b99-b4f6-985fa81b7d46.pdf|title=Codigo Electoral del Peru|access-date=2020-11-01|archive-date=2018-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417060344/https://portal.jne.gob.pe/portal_documentos/files/863dcb2e-6e86-4b99-b4f6-985fa81b7d46.pdf|url-status=live}}
• Philippines (on Maundy Thursday up to Good Friday, and from 00:00 on the preceding day up to election day. At this time, political campaigns are prohibited.){{Cite web |date=2021-02-13 |title=Comelec releases calendar of activities for 2022 elections |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/comelec-releases-calendar-of-activities-for-2022-elections/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531173700/https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/comelec-releases-calendar-of-activities-for-2022-elections/ |url-status=live }}
• Poland (from 00:00 on the preceding day, and on the election day as long as the polling stations are open){{Cite web|url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/Download?id=WDU20110210112&type=3|title=Kodeks Wyborczy (internetowy system aktów prawnych)|accessdate=18 March 2023|archive-date=30 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930083821/http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/Download?id=WDU20110210112&type=3|url-status=live}} since 1991
• Portugal (24 hours before, and during the election day)
• Russia (24 hours){{Cite web |title=Election silence starts in Russia before single voting day on September 13 |url=https://tass.com/russia/1200045 |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=TASS |archive-date=2023-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528212640/https://tass.com/russia/1200045 |url-status=live }}
• Singapore (from 00:00 on the preceding day, and on election day, until polling stations close) called "cooling-off period" {{cite web |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_664764.html |title=Dos and Don'ts on Cooling-off and Polling days |website=www.straitstimes.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506093543/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_664764.html |archive-date=2011-05-06}}
• Serbia (from 00:00 two days before election day){{cite web | url=http://www.telegraf.rs/vesti/188846-izborna-tisina-pocinje-od-cetvrtka-u-ponoc | title=Izborna tišina počinje od četvrtka u ponoć | publisher=Telegraf | date=1 May 2012 | access-date=14 December 2014 | trans-title=Election Silence Starts Thursday at Midnight | language=sr | archive-date=5 May 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505233158/http://www.telegraf.rs/vesti/188846-izborna-tisina-pocinje-od-cetvrtka-u-ponoc | url-status=live }}
• Slovakia (48 hours, both campaigning and polling){{cite web |date=14 January 2023 |title=§14 and §17, ZÁKON z 29. mája 2014 o volebnej kampani a o zmene a doplnení zákona č. 85/2005 Z. z. o politických stranách a politických hnutiach v znení neskorších predpisov |url=https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2014/181/20220801?ucinnost=14.01.2023 |publisher=Domov |access-date=14 January 2023 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114193526/https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2014/181/20220801?ucinnost=14.01.2023 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=a.s |first=Petit Press |title=Volebné moratórium pred komunálnymi a VÚC voľbami 2022 |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/22896624/komunalne-volby-moratorium.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=domov.sme.sk |language=sk |archive-date=2023-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603085151/https://domov.sme.sk/c/22896624/komunalne-volby-moratorium.html |url-status=live }}
• Slovenia (from 00:00 on the preceding day, and on the election day until the polling stations close)
• South Korea (Election day; releasing opinion polls are prohibited starting from 6 days before the election day)
• Spain (24 hours before election day) called "reflection day". Polling is banned five days before election day, although there are some legal tricks, like publishing abroad{{Cite web |url=http://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/jelect/normativa/LOREG2011-01-29.pdf |title=LEY ORGÁNICA 5/1985, DE 19 DE JUNIO, DEL RÉGIMEN ELECTORAL GENERAL |access-date=2011-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102073222/http://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/jelect/normativa/LOREG2011-01-29.pdf |archive-date=2013-11-02 |url-status=dead }}
• Sri Lanka (48 hours before election day)
• Taiwan (Election day; releasing opinion polls are prohibited starting from 10 days before the election day)
• Thailand (from 18:00 on the preceding day until the polling stations close, alcohol selling ban also applied){{cite web|url=https://www.it24hrs.com/2019/election-2562-warning/|title=เลือกตั้ง 2562 ข้อห้าม ในช่วงก่อนเลือกตั้งและวันเลือกตั้ง|date=11 March 2019|language=th|access-date=4 June 2019|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806075652/https://www.it24hrs.com/2019/election-2562-warning/|url-status=live}}
• Tunisia (from 00:00 on the preceding day, and in the election day until the polling stations close)
• Turkey (from 18:00 the day before until polling stations close, alcohol selling ban also applied from 22:00 the night before until polling stations close)
• Ukraine (from 00:00 on the preceding day, prohibition of agitation on polling stations, external commercials and banners should be removed){{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/electoral-silence-in-ukraine-on-saturday-prior-to-parliamentary-election-on-sunday-315034.html|title=Electoral silence in Ukraine on Saturday before parliamentary election on Sunday|work=Kyiv Post|date=27 October 2012|access-date=6 November 2012|archive-date=27 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027143642/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/electoral-silence-in-ukraine-on-saturday-prior-to-parliamentary-election-on-sunday-315034.html|url-status=live}}
• United Kingdom; while polling stations are open, broadcast media cannot report on any campaign activity, and it is forbidden to publish an exit poll or anything resembling one until voting closes. However, candidates and parties can still campaign (and often do so intensively), and print and digital media have no additional reporting restrictions.{{cite web |date=29 May 2024 |title=Ofcom's role in a General Election – what you need to know |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-we-do/ofcoms-role-in-a-general-election--what-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=1 December 2024 |website=Ofcom |language=en |archive-date=2 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202234942/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-we-do/ofcoms-role-in-a-general-election--what-you-need-to-know/ |url-status=live }}
• Uruguay (from 00:00 two days before election day)

The Constitutional Court of Bulgaria ruled in 2009 that both electoral silence and ban on opinion polls before the election day represented a violation of freedom of speech.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

{{See also|Section 329 of the Canada Elections Act|R v Bryan|Thomson Newspapers Co. v. Canada (Attorney General)}}

It is not permitted to "transmit election advertising to the public in an electoral district on polling day before the close of all of the polling stations in the electoral district".

Prior to the 2015 Canadian federal election,{{cite news|title=Election night results blackout a thing of the past|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/election-night-results-blackout-a-thing-of-the-past-1.3259787|access-date=17 October 2015|work=CBC News|first=Micki|last=Cowan|date=7 October 2015|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016012920/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/election-night-results-blackout-a-thing-of-the-past-1.3259787|url-status=live}} the distribution of election results in regions of the country where polls have not yet closed was banned, so results from ridings in the Eastern and Atlantic provinces would not influence results in the west.{{cite news

| title = Supreme Court upholds blackout on early election night results

| work = CBC News

| access-date = 2014-11-04

| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/supreme-court-upholds-blackout-on-early-election-night-results-1.667761

| date = 2007-06-26

| archive-date = 2022-12-21

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221221203459/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/supreme-court-upholds-blackout-on-early-election-night-results-1.667761

| url-status = live

}} This was upheld as lawful in a 2007 decision of the Supreme Court, R v Bryan.{{Cite web |date=March 15, 2007 |title=R v Bryan, 2007 SCC 12. |url=https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/2348/1/document.do |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117080725/https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/2348/1/document.do |archive-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-format=PDF |access-date=December 21, 2022 |publisher=Supreme Court of Canada |language=en, fr |format=PDF}} In January 2012, the Government announced it would repeal the prohibition "[as it] does not make sense with the widespread use of social media and other modern communications technology", upon the urging of the then Chief Electoral Officer, Marc Mayrand.{{Cite book |url=https://www.elections.ca/res/his/WEB_EC%2091135%20History%20of%20the%20Vote_Third%20edition_EN.pdf |title=A History of the Vote in Canada |publisher=Elections Canada |year=2021 |isbn=978-0-660-37056-9 |edition=3rd |location=Gatineau, Quebec |chapter=Advancing Fairness, Transparency and Integrity, 1982–2020 |ref=HistoryoftheVoteCA-Chp4 |archive-date=2023-01-04 |access-date=2022-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104070455/https://elections.ca/res/his/WEB_EC%2091135%20History%20of%20the%20Vote_Third%20edition_EN.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Employment and Social Development |date=2012-01-13 |title=Harper Government Committed to Repealing Dated Ban on Early Communication of Election Results |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2012/01/harper-government-committed-repealing-dated-ban-early-communication-election-results.html |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=www.canada.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Peesker |first=Saira |date=2012-01-13 |title=Feds lifting ban on publishing early election results |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/feds-lifting-ban-on-publishing-early-election-results-1.753239?cache=rhbqjymgiwnvkzqr |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} It was repealed by the Fair Elections Act on June 19, 2014.{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2014 |title=Fair Elections Act • Loi sur l'intégrité des élections |trans-title=Law on the Integrity of Elections |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/annualstatutes/2014_12/FullText.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Justice Laws |publisher=Parliament of Canada |via=Department of Justice |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221224002/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/annualstatutes/2014_12/FullText.html }}

Although media organisations are not permitted to be present for the count of results or to enter polling rooms, they may shoot video or photos from outside of a polling room as long as the secrecy of the ballot is maintained and access to the room is not impeded.{{Cite web |author-link=Elections Canada |date=2022-12-20 |title=Media at polling places |url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&dir=pol&document=index&lang=e |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=www.elections.ca |publisher=Elections Canada |archive-date=2023-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104045422/https://elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&dir=pol&document=index&lang=e |url-status=live }}

Between 1993 and 1998, the distribution of election surveys 74 hours before election day was banned. This was struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada as violating section 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Thomson Newspapers Co v Canada (AG).{{Cite web |date=May 29, 1998 |title=Thomson Newspapers Co. v. Canada (Attorney General) 1 SCR 877 (1998). |url=https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/1621/1/document.do |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716190356/http://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/1621/1/document.do |archive-date=July 16, 2016 |access-date=December 21, 2022 |publisher=Supreme Court of Canada |language=en, fr |format=PDF |publication-place=Canada}}

The Constitutional Court of Slovenia ruled in 2011 that a ban on opinion polls was unconstitutional.Decision U-I-67/09 on 24 March 2011

Until 2016, any mention of the candidate on the day of election was prohibited. Those who published positive or critical statements about parties or candidates on social media, online forums, or stated them for example in restaurants, were prosecuted and fined.{{Cite web |title=Socialistični volilni molk |url=https://www.dnevnik.si/1042614965 |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=Dnevnik |language=sl |archive-date=2022-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222193616/https://www.dnevnik.si/1042614965 |url-status=live }} For over two decades, media and voters refrained from talking about politics on the day before the elections and on election day. In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that "not every opinion is propaganda", published a new definition of the term 'propaganda' and reverted a lower court judgement, which convicted a person who published "Great interview! Worth reading!" on Facebook.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtvslo.si/news-in-english/supreme-court-on-election-blackouts-every-comment-is-not-propaganda/403791|title=Supreme Court on election blackouts: Every comment is not propaganda|website=rtvslo.si|accessdate=18 March 2023|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530220726/https://www.rtvslo.si/news-in-english/supreme-court-on-election-blackouts-every-comment-is-not-propaganda/403791|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/vrhovno-sodisce-o-volilnem-molku-vsaka-izjava-se-ni-propaganda/403756|title=Vrhovno sodišče o volilnem molku: Vsaka izjava še ni propaganda|access-date=2016-09-27|archive-date=2016-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928162139/http://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/vrhovno-sodisce-o-volilnem-molku-vsaka-izjava-se-ni-propaganda/403756|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://siol.net/novice/slovenija/sodisce-v-casu-volilnega-molka-lahko-govorite-o-kandidatih-426616|title=Pravnik: Volilnega molka v Sloveniji ni več #IzArhiva|access-date=2016-09-27|archive-date=2016-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928163958/http://siol.net/novice/slovenija/sodisce-v-casu-volilnega-molka-lahko-govorite-o-kandidatih-426616|url-status=live}}

The Constitutional Court of Hungary ruled in 2007 that a ban on opinion polls was unconstitutional, but upheld electoral silence.Decision 6/2007 (II. 27.) AB on 26. February 2007

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Burson v. Freeman (1992) that campaigning can only be limited on election day in a small area around the polling station. Any broader ban on speech would be unconstitutional.Burson v. Freeman, 504 U.S. 191 (1992)

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• ACE Electoral Knowledge Network – [https://aceproject.org/epic-en/CDMap?question=ME062 map of blackout periods around the world].

Category:Election campaigning

Category:Elections terminology

Category:Election campaign law