The Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters enshrines that any electoral system may be chosen provided it respects the five underlying principles of the European electoral heritage, namely: universal, equal, free, secret, and direct suffrage. In its Opinions, the Venice Commission has repeatedly held 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 regulated across the member states of the Venice Commission;
- States have a wide discretion in designing their electoral systems, provided that international standards guaranteeing, in particular, universal, equal, free and secret suffrage, are respected;
- Comparative law arguments should be used with caution, as state institutions and legislative arrangements function within a specific legal, political, and cultural context.