5. Reforming the electoral system, part II: Restrictive reforms

Question 1

four main approaches to defining electoral malpractice

Answer 1

legal definition

sociological approach

best practice / international norms

democratic theory definition

Question 2

electoral integrity

Answer 2

defined as the extent to which elections meet democratic standards, specifically being free, fair, and transparent, and reflecting the genuine will of the people

Question 3

legal definition - electoral malpractice

Answer 3

malpractice is seen as a violation of electoral laws, but this is problematic due to differing legal standards across countries

Question 4

sociological approach - electoral malpractice

Answer 4

based on public perceptions of norm violations, but this can be inconsistent across cultures and sub-groups

Question 5

best practice / international norms - electoral malpractice

Answer 5

uses international standards (like the Universal Declaration of human Rights) as benchmarks, but these guidelines may be limited in scope

Question 6

democratic theory definition - electoral malpractice

Answer 6

defines malpractice against an ideal model of democracy where public trust is central, identifying deviations as malpractice

Question 7

three principal conditions for democratic outcomes through electoral means

Answer 7

inclusiveness

policy - directed voting

effective aggregation

Question 8

inclusiveness - democratic outcomes through electoral means

Answer 8

= are the elections free

right to vote / opportunity to vote / right to stand for elections

Question 9

policy - directed voting - democratic outcomes through electoral means

Answer 9

= are the elections fair

equal information / free expression of preferences.

Question 10

effective aggregation - democratic outcomes through electoral means

Answer 10

neutral seat conversion / electoral system

–> no malapportionment (certain groups are overrepresented) or gerrymandering (electoral districts that look weird to give one party an advantage)

accurate counting, impartiality, openness and transparency

Question 11

four ideals for democratic practice

Answer 11

inclusivity

impartiality

openness

transparency

Question 12

impartiality

Answer 12

ensuring that the electoral process is fair and unbiased, with no contestant receiving undue advantage

impartiality is a core requirement for democratic elections, as it safeguards against favouritism and manipulation

Question 13

openness

Answer 13

the ability for electoral competition to be free and unhindered, with candidates and parties able to participate without undue restrictions

critical for informing voters and ensuring that elections provide meaningful choices

Question 14

transparency

Answer 14

involves making sure that the electoral process is visible and understandable to all stakeholders, fostering trust in the fairness and accuracy of the election

transparency as crucial for public confidence in elections

Question 15

electoral malpracitce

Answer 15

refers to the manipulation of electoral processes and outcomes so as to substitute personal or partisan benefit for the public interest

can include activities like vote-rigging, intimidation, gerrymandering, vote buying, or any other act that intentionally corrupts the election process

Question 16

three main forms of electoral manipulation

Answer 16

manipulation of institutions (like gerrymandering)

manipulation of vote choice (like vote buying)

manipulation of the voting act (stuffing ballot boxes)