The Venice Commission has identified the main principles underlying the European electoral heritage. These principles include the requirements of universal, equal, free, secret and direct suffrage. Elections, moreover, must be held at regular intervals. There is a discretion left to national authorities to decide whether the right to vote is accorded to citizens living abroad. The Venice Commission has also identified three general conditions which have to be met to make compliance with the underlying principles possible. Those are: a) respect for fundamental human rights, especially freedom of expression, assembly and association; b) stability of electoral legislation and its protection from political manipulation; c) procedural guarantees such as organisation of elections by an impartial body, election observation, an effective system of appeal, funding or security.