Western Democracies' Elections Rate U.S. Lowest - Reasons Explained
The Electoral Integrity Project (EIP), an independent research initiative founded in 2012, has been evaluating the quality of elections worldwide, shedding light on the strengths and weaknesses of various democracies. In this article, we will focus on the findings regarding the United States and its elections.
In a global comparison, the 2012 U.S. presidential election ranked 60th out of 180 elections, while the 2014 U.S. Congressional elections fared even worse, ranking 65th. These rankings have raised questions about the electoral integrity of the United States, a country often perceived as a role model.
One of the key issues highlighted by the EIP is voter registration. Criticisms include inaccuracies in the register and the registration of ineligible electors. The 2016 primary in North Carolina, for instance, was marked by confusion about new photo ID requirements and long lines. Court decisions over voter identification laws are still pending in Texas and Virginia.
Campaign finance is another area of concern. Experts have expressed worries about parties and candidates having equitable access to public subsidies and political donations. This issue has been a topic of debate in the 2016 election, with candidates like Bernie Sanders campaigning on his ability to raise funds from multiple small donors, and others perceived as more beholden to establishment donors and corporate interests.
The conduct of American elections has also been criticised in the 2014 bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Administration report, which documented a series of vulnerabilities. During the 2014 midterm elections, news media reported a range of problems on polling day, including disruptions to 18 state election websites, malfunctioning voting machines, and confusion over new photo ID requirements.
The EIP's data can be used to question whether the U.S. is the electoral role model it imagines itself to be. The worst problem across most states involved gerrymandering of district boundaries to favour incumbents, with a mean score of just 42 on a 100-point scale.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. States such as North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin performed relatively well, while states like California, Oklahoma, and Mississippi demonstrated noticeable shortfalls, according to the Pew Center's 2012 Election Performance Index.
In contrast, elections in many newer democracies are seen by experts to perform far better in the global comparison. Countries like Lithuania (ranked 4th), Costa Rica (6th), and Slovenia (8th) are examples of this. At the top of the ranking are Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, all scoring over 80 on the 100-point PEI Index.
Despite these concerns, it's important to note that the EIP's results have been published in several books, including Dr. Pippa Norris's own "Why Electoral Integrity Matters" and "Why Elections Fail". The EIP's work serves as a reminder for continuous improvement and a call for more transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
In conclusion, while the United States has made significant strides in democracy, there are areas that require attention and improvement. The EIP's findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and citizens alike, encouraging a more informed and engaged electorate.
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