A legal and regulatory framework may be viewed as a set of constitutional, legislative, regulatory, jurisprudential and managerial rules that together establish the voting rights citizens use to elect representatives. Beyond the selection of public officials, citizens often use elections to accept or reject legislative bills, governmental decisions and resolutions. 

Countries differ in the organization of their territorial, political and governmental systems, which affects the design of their electoral frameworks. Similarly, the legal instruments and traditions upon which electoral frameworks rest, vary. These factors greatly influence the design and revision of frameworks. 

The objective of this Legal Framework Encyclopaedia topic  is to analyze, from a comparative perspective, specific issues related to legal and administrative regulations which are fundamental for any election which aspires to be free and fair. It aims to provide better understanding of what an electoral legal framework is and can aspire to be, and how it can be reformed and improved.