of 2006. Article 25 of the Covenant recognizes that every citizen, without any discrimination, has the right to participate in the conduct of public affairs, either directly or through freely chosen representatives, as well as the right to vote and be elected in periodic, genuine elections conducted by universal and equal suffrage, and by secret ballot, ensuring the free expression of the will of the electors. 6. The relevant international instruments pertaining to the right to nominate and vote emphasize that the exercise of this right should not be subject to any discrimination among citizens based on sex, race, language, religion, political or non-political opinion, national or social origin, wealth, birth, or any other criteria. Furthermore, the direct exercise of political rights by citizens, whether through nomination or voting, must take place within the framework of periodic, genuine, and free elections held at reasonable intervals, under laws that ensure the effective exercise of these rights. Voters must be free to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice, and they should have the freedom to express their opinions and views independently without being subjected to violence, threats, coercion, manipulation, or any attempts to interfere that undermine their independence, regardless of the nature of such interference. 7. These international instruments allow for the inclusion of reasonable restrictions in the legislation governing the electoral process, provided that the purpose of such restrictions is to regulate or define the right to nominate and vote without undermining its essence. One of the regulated restrictions on this right is the permissibility of setting a minimum legal age for the exercise of the right to vote. 7