International IDEA published the Global State of Democracy 2024: Strengthening the Legitimacy of Elections in a Time of Radical Uncertainty report on 16 September 2024.
This comprehensive report examines key global trends related to democracy and human rights, with a sharp focus on election credibility.
In these 2024 super-cycle elections, candidates present transformational agendas to nearly 3 billion voters worldwide. However, the report highlights that democracy continues to face significant challenges.
In light of the report's findings, it would be prudent to pay close attention to developments in Türkiye, Hungary, and North Macedonia.
- In an election super-cycle year in which approximately 3 billion people will go to the polls, one in three?will vote in countries where the quality of elections is significantly worse than it was five years ago.
- Electoral outcomes are disputed relatively frequently. Between 2020 and 2024, in almost one in five elections a losing candidate or party rejected the electoral outcome. Elections are being decided by court appeals at almost the same rate.
- The global rate of electoral participation has declined as elections have become increasingly disputed, with the global average for electoral turnout declining from 65.2?per cent to 55.5?per cent over the past 15 years.
- Countries experiencing net declines in democratic performance far outnumber those with advances. About one in four countries is moving forward (on balance), while four out of every nine are worse off.
- Declines have been most concentrated in Representation (Credible Elections and Effective Parliament) and Rights (Economic Equality, Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press).
- In addition to declines in weaker contexts, democratically high-performing countries in all regions have suffered significant deterioration, especially in Europe and the Americas.
- While substantial progress has been made in improving electoral administration, disputes about the credibility of elections deal mainly with irregularities at the point of voting and vote counting.
- Despite the many threats to elections and the declines found in many countries, elections retain their promise as a mechanism for ensuring popular control over decision makers and decision making. Incumbent parties have lost presidential elections and parliamentary majorities in many highly watched elections in 2023 and 2024.
The report provides actionable policy recommendations to strengthen electoral integrity and regain public trust in political processes.
?? [Read the full report here]
