How Are Elections Run? New Comparative Trends

• In Event: Fostering Voter Turnout

Abstract

How are elections run? Comparative Trends
The recent example of the 2020 American Presidential Election demonstrates how crucial accessible electoral procedures are for the democratic process, and how diverse these procedures can be. And yet, there is considerable variation around the world in how elections are run (James et al. 2019). Some countries require citizens to vote in person, while others provide a range of special voting mechanisms. Some countries require citizens to register themselves to vote, while other states do this on their citizens behalf.

This paper presents a new global dataset detailing voting and registration procedures in 169 countries. It includes variables: voter registration, polling stations, voting mechanisms and technology used, identification requirements, and options for provisional/tendered ballots. It will map out the global patterns and construct an index to measure the ease with which voters can participate in the election. In doing so, it contributes to the literature of inclusive voting procedures and how elections can fulfill democratic standards of accessibility (James and Garnett 2020).

It will then consider two questions. Firstly, what explains such variations in the ease of electoral participation? We consider variables such as the country’s history with democracy, internal public administration and electoral management body type, and experiences with federalism.

Secondly, what are the consequences of the ease of voting for electoral integrity and democratic politics? We explore the relationship between the mechanisms used for registration and voting, and various measures of electoral integrity, including expert perceptions and public confidence in elections.

This research and new dataset will provide much needed comparative insights into the role of election administration on electoral integrity around the globe.

Bibliography:
James, Toby S. , and Holly Ann Garnett. 2020. "Introduction: The Case for Inclusive Voting Practices " Policy Studies.
James, Toby S., Holly Ann Garnett, Leontine Loeber, and Carolien van Ham. 2019. "Electoral management and the organisational determinants of electoral integrity: Introduction." International Political Science Review 40 (3):295-312. doi: 10.1177/0192512119828206.

Authors

• Toby S. James, University of East Anglia

• Holly Ann Garnett, Royal Military College of Canada