Ferran Martinez i Coma - Explaining perceptions of electoral integrity 28/4/15

Описание: Download the paper at: http://bit.ly/1FweKfX
--------------------------------

In recent years a growing literature has focused on how and why some election processes are viewed as having integrity while others lack it. Some scholars examine how individual voters view the process and their role in it while others study how a state’s structural characteristics (e.g. its economic development, the education levels of its citizens, and their experience with elections) shape the voting process. The relative importance of election dynamics themselves and the process of their evaluation, however, remain unclear. What stages of the election process are most important when evaluating elections? Put differently, if we know a ‘good’ election when we see it, what is the process by which we see it and what aspects of the election do we particularly focus on?
This paper answers this question by considering three types of factors relevant to evaluating an election: (1) the characteristics of the country, (2) the characteristics of the evaluators, and (3) the characteristics of the election itself. It posits that a better understanding of how election dynamics shape perceptions of election integrity is crucial because these dynamics vary more over time compared to individual and state-level factors. It explains why certain parts of the election cycle are crucial to determining how an election is judged—especially the conduct of the election authority, the accuracy of voter registration, and the use of political violence. Empirical results using new data on over 91 elections held in 85 countries during 2013 and 2014 are supportive of our argument.

Discussant: Dr. David Smith (University of Sydney)
Chair: Mr. Max Grömping (University of Sydney)

--------------------------------
The Electoral Integrity Project is an independent research team based at the University of Sydney and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. It explores many issues, focusing upon three main questions:

When do elections meet international standards of electoral integrity?
What happens when elections fail to do so?
And what can be done to mitigate these problems?

For more information see: www.electoralintegrityproject.com