The members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada, the community’s national governing body, travel today to the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel to participate in the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha’i world community.
The election, on April 29, takes place every five years. It is one of the most unique, democratic elections on the planet. A global process, begun well over a year ago with people in 100,000 cities and villages around the world, involved elections for regional representatives who then voted in national elections. The process culminates in the election of the administrative head of the Baha’i Faith, the religion’s highest authority. It guides the worldwide Baha’i community in its development and in its response to changing world conditions, provides for Baha’i pilgrimage, holds in trust and maintains the Baha’i holy places, and administers international Baha’i funds.
Canada’s delegates join with their counterparts from 170 other countries at the International Baha’i Convention taking place at the administrative and spiritual heart of the Baha’i community. About 1,200 delegates are expected to attend the convention. Those unable to attend send ballots by mail.
Baha’i elections are distinctive in that there are no nominations, no campaigning, and no discussion about which individuals should be elected. The delegates to the International Baha’i Convention - members of all the Baha’i national governing bodies around the world - vote by secret ballot for the nine people they believe best suited for membership on the supreme institution of their Faith.
The Baha’i writings state that voters should try to choose people “of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.”