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Global index for free and fair elections suffers biggest decline on record in 2023, democracy watchdog says

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  • Global index for free and fair elections suffers biggest decline on record in 2023, democracy watchdog says
  • September 17, 2024
  • Article Body Text STOCKHOLM — <p>Lower voter turnout and increasingly contested results globally are threatening the credibility of elections, an intergovernmental watchdog warned on Tuesday, as its sub-index for free and fair elections suffered its biggest decline on record in 2023.</p> <p>In its report, the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) said 2023 was the eighth consecutive year with a net decline in overall democratic performance, the longest consecutive fall since records began in 1975.</p> <p>The watchdog bases its Global State of Democracy indexes on more than 100 variables and is using four main categories - representation, rights, rule of law and participation - to categorize performance.</p> <p>The category of democracy related to free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight, a sub-category of representation, suffered its worst year on record in 2023.</p> <p>&quot;This report is a call for action to protect democratic elections,&quot; IDEA's Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora said in the report. &quot;The success of democracy depends on many things, but it becomes utterly impossible if elections fail.&quot;</p> <p>The think-tank said government intimidation and electoral process irregularities, such as fraudulent voter registration and vote-counting, were increasing. It also said that threats of foreign interference, disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns added to challenges.</p> <p>It also said that global voter participation had fallen to 55.5% of eligible voters in 2023 from 65.2% in 2008. Globally, in almost 20% of elections between 2020 and 2024, one of the losing candidates or parties rejected the results.</p> <p>IDEA said that the democratic performance in the U.S., which holds a presidential election this year, had recovered somewhat in the past two years, but the <a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3J603Q&amp;linkedFromStory=true">assassination attempt</a> on former President Donald Trump in July highlighted continued risks.</p> <p>&quot;Less than half (47%) of the Americans said the 2020 election was 'free and fair' and the country remains deeply polarized,&quot; IDEA said.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date September 17, 2024 03:39 EDT
  • Byline Reuters
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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