There is no absolute human right to hold office, i.e. to be part of a particular government institution. The rights to vote and to be elected and the right to political participation are not absolute. The general right to participate in government is based on rules established by law, which also define the framework of exercise of the rights to elect and be elected, with due respect for international standards. What distinguishes representative (i.e. institutional) democracy from direct democracy is that only those hold office, who are trusted by the voters (following an established procedure). Both international treaties and national constitutions establish restrictions on the right to vote and to be elected, which may differ in scope and aims. Such restrictions must be established by law and must be reasonable and objective. Voters’ capacity to elect freely thus is always limited by the rules that regulate the right to stand for office and access to the ballot or nomination rules. The most common requirements are citizenship and age, and there may be additional ones.