2015 ECPR General Conference Panels:

“The Hidden Challenges of Electoral Integrity” 

27-28 August 2015

Montreal, Canada

 

Details

Conference Theme

As one of the most fundamental acts of political expression, the adherence to the high standards of procedural performance in elections remains a key area of study for both democratic and autocratic regimes. Topics such as best practices for preventing fraud in new democracies and the effects of electoral malpractice in electoral authoritarian regimes have been the focus of continued study, but what are the hidden challenges of electoral integrity? This section presented panels focusing on unexpected problems in the study of electoral integrity in both the democratic and autocratic regimes that hold elections.

Papers addressed questions such as:

  • Why do some electoral authoritarian regimes perform reasonably well in terms of electoral integrity? Is there a gap between the legal framework and performance in ‘authoritarian elections’?

  • What are the causes and consequences of electoral integrity or malpractice across various regime types?

  • What is the relationship between different types of party systems and electoral rules and the (perceived) quality of elections and electoral process?

  • How are established democracies coping with the new integrity challenges of the digital age and low political interest and participation

 

 

Panels

1. Electoral Integrity and Authoritarianism
Time: August 28, 09:00am
Location: Jean Brillant Floor 4, Room B-4265

Panel Chair: Chris Chimm, McGill University, chris.chhim@mail.mcgill.ca

Panel Discussant: Margarita Zavadskaya, European University Institute, Margarita.Zavadskaya@EUI.EU

Abstract: It is commonplace to assume that all modern autocrats manipulate the elections. Although, it is often omitted that the menu of manipulation is wide and some choices are more efficient, than the others. This panel dicusses how does electoral integrity or malpractice affect turnout, perception of elections as well as more general questions as the very meaning of authoritarian elections.

Papers:

Electoral Integrity and Democratic Transition: What the 2015 General Election in Nigeria Means to the International Community
Franklins Sanubi, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, fasanubi@delsu.edu.ng

Innovation and Diffusion of Electoral Misconducts: Evidences from Russia and the South Caucasus
Samuele Dominioni, Sciences Po Paris, samuele.dominioni@sciencespo.fr 

The Effects of Electoral Integrity on Voter Turnout in Semi-Authoritarian Regimes
Evelyn Chan, University of Pittsburgh, evc8@pitt.edu

The Meaning of Autocratic Elections: Implications for Electoral Integrity
Lee Morgenbesser, Griffith University, l.morgenbesser@griffith.edu.au

2. Electoral Justice and Legal Challenges
Time: August 28, 11:00am
Location: Jean Brillant Floor 4, Room B-4265

Panel Chair: Holly Ann Garnett, McGill University, holly.garnett@mail.mcgill.ca

Discussant: Norbert Kersting, University of Münster, Norbert.kersting@uni-muenster.de

Abstract: The study of electoral integrity involves the analysis of legal arrangements that create divergent incentives for political actors and, thereby, lead to unintended outcomes: voter suppression, discrimination, undermining political trust. This panel discusses the legal challenges of electoral integrity through the case-studies and cross-country comparisons.

Papers:

Challenges to Elections Quality: The Exceptionality of Electoral Dispute Resolution in Nigeria 2007 and 2011 Elections
Ibrahim Sani, University of Edinburgh, I.Sani@sms.ed.ac.uk

Electoral Integrity and Procedural Justice
Julian Zuber, University of Oxford, julian.zuber@economics.oxon.org

The Law and Politics of Voter Suppression
Michael Pal, University of Ottawa, mpal@uottawa.ca

3. Electoral Malpractice in Comparative Perspective
Time: August 27, 15:50
Location: Jean Brillant Floor 2, Room B-2305

Panel Chair: Valerie-Ann Maheo, McGill University, va.maheo@mail.mcgill.ca

Panel Discussant: Alessandro Nai, University of Sydney, alessandro.nai@unige.ch

Abstract: This panel addresses the issues of broad cross-national comparison of the effects of electoral misconduct in democratising regimes all over the world. Are there any common tendencies? How the methodological challenges of cross-national study of electoral fraud can be tackled?

Papers:

Mistake, Miscount or Electoral Fraud? Invalid voting in Czech Municipal Elections
Tomáš Lebeda, Palacký University, tomas.lebeda@upol.cz

Quality of Elections in Latin America: electoral governance, trust, failure.
Gabriela Tarouco, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, gabrielat@uol.com.br

When Do Elections Subvert Authoritarianism? Electoral Malpractice and Possible Post-Electoral Scenarios
Margarita Zavadskaya, European University Institute, Margarita.Zavadskaya@EUI.EU

4. Strengthening Electoral Integrity
Time: August 28, 17:50am
Location: Jean Brillant Floor 4, Room B-4265

Panel Chair: Margarita Zavadskaya, European University Institute, Margarita.Zavadskaya@EUI.EU

Panel Discussant: Holly Ann Garnett, McGill University, holly.garnett@mail.mcgill.ca

Abstract: This panel addresses the questions of how and why voters' and experts' evaluations of electoral integrity diverge, which factors affect the perceptions of electoral integrity and through which mechanisms electoral integrity can be improved.

Papers:

Internet Penetration: A Way to Strengthening Electoral Integrity
Daniel Stockemer, University of Ottawa, dstockem@uottawa.ca

Rolling in the deep: How values and personality traits affect perceptions of electoral integrity
Alessandro Nai, University of Geneva, alessandro.nai@unige.ch
Camille Reynolds, Université de Lausanne, camille.reynolds@unil.ch

Voters' Perception vs. Expert Assessment of Election Quality
Marcus Spittler, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, marcus.spittler@wzb.eu