The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR have consistently expressed the view that the choice of an electoral system is a sovereign decision of a state through its political system. There are different electoral systems, and multiple options on how they are presented are found across the OSCE region and member states of the Venice Commission. States have wide discretion in designing electoral systems, provided that international conventions and standards, guaranteeing, in particular, universal, equal, free and secret suffrage, are respected. Different electoral systems have different advantages and shortcomings.