Not possible without neither?

[CarlOscar]

Hi,

I am new to the forum, and I have tried searching your site for an answer but haven't managed to. However I am sorry if this subject has already been discussed.

This is my (bad?) sentence; "Democracy is not possible without neither free press nor free elections".

I have heard I can't use double negations, that I can't use "without" before "neither". Yet, if I write;

"Democracy is not possible with neither free press nor free elections", that sounds wierd... But maybe it is right?

or "Democracy is not possible without EITHER free press or free elections", that sounds like saying "without BOTH free press and free elections, democracy would be possible".

Maybe this is a case, where double negations are needed?

I am very grateful for any help from a kind soul out there! :)

[Alan]

I see nothing wrong with

Democracy is not possible without EITHER free press or free elections.

'Both' and 'either' do not have the same meaning.