On this day, Bahá'í communities around the world elect their local governing bodies, the Local Spiritual Assembly, by the electoral method laid down by Bahá'u'lláh.
Following a framework set down by Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í communities conduct their business through a distinctive system of freely elected governing councils that challenge commonly accepted ideas about the inherent limitations of democracy. For a more detailed description, link to The Bahá'ís magazine available electronically or in print by contacting the St. John's Assembly, PO Box 91, St. John's, NL, A1C 5H5.
At its
foundation,
the Bahá'í administrative order rests on the local
Spiritual
Assembly, a community governing council elected each year in every
community
where there are nine or more adult Bahá'ís. It is worth
describing
in some detail the operation of the local Spiritual Assembly, as many
of
its features are reflected at the national and international levels.
Typically, the reach of the local Spiritual Assembly is defined by the municipal boundaries established by the government. In other words, all Bahá'ís who live within the boundaries of a particular village, town, city, parish, or governing district are considered to be within the jurisdiction of the local Spiritual Assembly of that locality.
The local Spiritual Assembly is elected each year by secret ballot. In April, all adult Bahá'ís in the given community gather for an election. Those who cannot personally attend are encouraged to submit absentee ballots. After a period of prayer and meditation, each adult then writes down nine names: the names of those nine individuals that he or she feels are best qualified to administer the affairs of the community.
The qualities such individuals should possess are spelled out quite clearly in the Bahá'í writings. Those participating in the election should consider "the names of only those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience."
Perhaps the most surprising aspect to this process is the absence of a prepared ballot or of any system of nominations. Instead, every adult Bahá'í in the community is eligible for election to the local Spiritual Assembly.
Those elected to the Assembly need not receive a majority of votes; rather, the nine individuals who receive the highest number of votes are selected. Since everyone in the community is, in essence, up for election, individual voters have the opportunity to vote according to their consciencewith an absolute freedom of choice. Accordingly, individuals with a recognized maturity, experience and humility tend to be elected--instead of simply those who might be bold or egotistical enough to run for office.
Although this system defies political convention, it is surprisingly effective in practice. The whole emphasis of the Bahá'í electoral system is to bring forth leaders who possess qualities of selflessness, intellectual capacity and wisdom.
A similar method of election is used for the election of the National Spiritual Assembly, in which delegates to a national Convention are elected by Bahá'í communities across the whole country, and these delegates gather in a national Convention to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly from among the entire body of the Bahá'ís, using the same principles as for the election of local Spiritual Assemblies.
(Adapted from The Bahá'ís magazine - see Bahá'í Links.)
