The Electoral Integrity Project hosted an workshop on ‘New Developments in Electoral Integrity Research’ at the ECPR General Conference in Prague, September 2023. The workshop was co-convened by Leontine Loeber, Holly Ann Garnett and Toby James. Holly Ann Garnett and Toby James introduced a proposed new framework for evaluating electoral integrity and reconfiguration of the…Read more The EIP ECPR Workshop in Prague in Review
The Third International iEIP Conference in Review
The Electoral Integrity Project held it’s third international online conference in July 2023. Around 500 participants joining from over 60 countries this year. There was an action packed agenda of 14 panels across the week. The workshop brought the EIP into it’s 12th year of conferences. The workshop comes at an important moment in time.…Read more The Third International iEIP Conference in Review
Global Electoral Integrity Report 2023 published
The new report from the Electoral Integrity Project has reported that election quality has held steady around the world – and increased in many countries. There have been widespread concerns about democratic backsliding around the world with the US launching a Summit for Democracy, asking countries to make commitments to support democratic reform. The Electoral…Read more Global Electoral Integrity Report 2023 published
Automatic voter registration is the key for better registers, new article shows
Voter registration reform is being discussed in many countries. What improves register quality? Holly Ann Garnett and I evaluate electoral register quality in 159 countries in a new research paper. We find that automatic voter registration ('AVR') improves *both* completeness and accuracy. This is significant because many contemporary debates suggest that there is often a…Read more Automatic voter registration is the key for better registers, new article shows
Elections in Emergencies and Crisis – book launched in the Swiss Parliament
A new book on holding Elections During Emergencies and Crises is out now, and free to download. It seeks to learn the lessons from holding elections during the pandemic for future emergency situations. Elections often have to be held in emergency situations. The Covid-19 pandemic was one of the most serious emergency situations that the…Read more Elections in Emergencies and Crisis – book launched in the Swiss Parliament
UK Voter Registration Reform
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee of the UK Parliament has recently launched an inquiry into how to modernise the voter registration system. I gave oral evidence to the first sessional alongside colleague Professor Alistair Clark, which you can watch below. The UK system should introduce direct enrolment for the next generation of voters.…Read more UK Voter Registration Reform
UK Electoral Data Report
The electoral process generates enormous volumes of data. The widespread availability of the data is important for democratic participation. It enables patterns of (non)participation to be traced and interventions to be developed to encourage turnout – including amongst marginalised communities and disengaged voters. It also enables political parties to reach voters and engage them in…Read more UK Electoral Data Report
Electoral Integrity in Brazil, in comparative perspective
Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro have stormed the country's Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace. In the run up to the election, Bolsonaro repeatedly claimed that Brazil's electronic voting system was vulnerable to fraud - a claim dismissed by the electoral authorities. So how strong are Brazil's elections? Ahead of the…Read more Electoral Integrity in Brazil, in comparative perspective
Qatar 2022: the world’s most autocratic World Cup venue?
Football fans face a moral quandary. Do they avidly follow the men's World Cup? Or boycott and stay away? The FIFA World Cup is one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world. But it is also being held in a country where serious concerns have been raised about human rights. These includes LBGTQ+…Read more Qatar 2022: the world’s most autocratic World Cup venue?
How does the quality of US elections compare globally?
How does the quality of US elections compare globally? Here's a mini-Vlog lecture briefing ahead of the 2022 November mid-terms. Key points: There is a long history of problems with US elections dating back to the foundation of the Republic. The US is middle ranking when compared internationally - and 16th amongst the Americas. Electoral…Read more How does the quality of US elections compare globally?
Toby S. James 