Out-of-country voting is not essential or required by international law.17 However, it is broadly considered to be a positive measure. PACE Resolution 1459 (2005) on the abolition of restrictions on the right to vote states: "Given the importance of the right to vote in a democratic society, the member countries of the Council of Europe should enable their citizens living abroad to vote during national elections […]. They should take appropriate measures to facilitate the exercise of such voting rights as much as possible, in particular by considering absentee (postal), consular or e-voting".