Bahá’ís Believe: Sacred Elections
“On the election day, the friends must whole-heartedly participate in the elections, in unity and amity, turning their hearts to God, detached from all things but Him, seeking His guidance and supplicating His aid and bounty.”
—Shoghi Effendi
There are no ministers or clergy in the Bahá’í Faith. Instead, in each local community with nine or more adult members, nine individuals are elected to serve on a Spiritual Assembly. Assembly members guide community activities and make necessary decisions.
In this unique and sacred process, Bahá’í elections take place without nominations, candidates, or campaigns. No one expresses their desire to serve or their thoughts about the service of others. In a spiritual atmosphere, Bahá’ís turn their hearts to God in prayer and vote for those people who express loyalty, selfless devotion, a well-trained mind, ability, and mature experience.
A country's National Spiritual Assembly is elected in a two-stage process. Bahá’ís in a geographical area called an electoral unit meet to elect a delegate to represent them at the National Convention. Members of the unit also consult about regional activities and share their learning.
Participants of the National Convention in Angola, 2006
At the National Convention, the delegates choose nine individuals to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly. This council makes decisions and guides activities for the whole country. The delegates also consult and share their successes and challenges in sharing the Bahá’í Faith in their area.
Every five years, all National Spiritual Assemblies meet at the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa, Israel, to elect the Universal House of Justice—the global governing body of the Faith.
The Seat of the Universal House of Justice on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
Nine men are elected to serve on the House of Justice, as determined by Bahá’u’lláh, the Faith's Prophet-Founder. His son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, stated that the wisdom of male membership will be clear in the future. This is not an indication of any superiority of men over women, since the Bahá’í writings strongly assert the equality of women and men. Among its many tasks, the Universal House of Justice works to support the equality of women and the education of girls.
A delegate from Croatia casts her ballot for the Universal House of Justice in 2023.
Participating in Bahá’í elections is a sacred duty for adult Bahá’ís aged 18 and over. The process calls for faith, detachment, sincerity, purity of spirit, trustworthiness, unity, and skilled consultation, among other qualities.
The Bahá’í writings explain:
“The first condition is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of the assembly. They must be wholly free from estrangement and must manifest in themselves the Unity of God, for they are the waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the stars of one heaven, the rays of one sun, the trees of one orchard, the flowers of one garden.”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Photos: © Bahá’í International Community