April 29, 2023
After days of spiritual preparation visiting Bahá’í Holy Places, some 1,250 delegates representing 176 countries around the world assembled today in a momentous gathering to reverently cast their ballots for the election of the Universal House of Justice. The total number of ballots cast, including absentee ballots, surpassed 1590.
The casting of ballots this morning was the culmination of a global electoral process in which every adult Bahá’í can participate. Bahá’í elections are distinctive for their lack of nominations and campaigning. The delegates to the International Convention, comprising the membership of all national Bahá’í assemblies, vote by confidential ballot for the nine individuals they believe are best suited for membership on the House of Justice.
The mandate of the Universal House of Justice, which was ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His book of laws, is to exert a positive influence on the welfare of humankind, promote education, peace and global prosperity, as well as to safeguard human honor, among many other responsibilities.
The House of Justice preserves the unity of the worldwide Bahá’í community, guiding it to develop its capacity to participate in building a prosperous global civilization and to translate Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of world peace into reality.
