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A sham election is only apparently democratic election, but in which the output is actually already predetermined. A sham election is always a non-free choice (which is the opposite of a free election ).

Elections have the function of the people to participate in the political power and select individuals who represent the people. You can also have the function to pretend to that participation and choice. Thus, a dictatorship is trying to portray themselves as democratically legitimized. Sham elections can accompany in a single question, the formation of a parliament, the election of an individual (such as the head of state ) or the vote.

The freedom of choice is not given if the choices are unduly restricted. This means the right to vote that the voter is threatened with forced or manipulated. For the passive right to vote, this means that not everyone can run.

Some dictatorships are or were officially a one-party state, the Soviet Union and the Third Reich. Voters should be given lists of candidates of the party to confirm or express their consent in polls. Although other dictatorships allow multiple parties exist, such as the DDR, but here has been previously set by the authorities, such as the lists of candidates look like and what are the options for voting.

In addition, the election process itself is often manipulated. For example, it was during DDR voting booths, but who actually made ​​use of it (and thus his right to secrecy of the vote ), who had to fear negative reactions by those in power. Finally, the results were prepared as those in power have wished it by election fraud.

Elections are called semi -free if the government (or, for example, an occupying power ) while allowing opposition candidates, but this greatly hindered during the election campaign. Moreover, the government massively supported their own candidates. Maybe the government can determine who gets how much of campaign materials (paper, air times ).