2024 is not just AN election year. It’s THE election year.
Elections are no guarantee of democracy. Even the tyrants crave the legitimacy that, in the modern era, can be provided only by the ballot box – margins of victory doubling as one more tool of intimidation.
However, it’s equally valid to acknowledge that democracy cannot thrive without elections. This is why 2024 holds such profound significance. This year, an unprecedented number of voters worldwide are set to participate in elections. At least 64 countries, along with the European Union, are gearing up for national elections. Collectively, these nations represent approximately 49% of the global population – around 4.2 billion citizens. The outcomes of these elections are anticipated to be highly significant for many, shaping political landscapes and policies for the foreseeable future.
For those seeking more information about the elections in 2024, I recommend consulting the election calendar provided by the National Democratic Institute here.
If you have a keen interest in elections and are eager to know which countries are heading to the polls in the upcoming years, Anchor Change offers an exceptional election cycle tracker.
Globally, even in major influential nations, there’s a noticeable trend of diminishing room for political competition and civil society. Simultaneously, leaders elected under the guise of democracy are suppressing dissent, undermining key democratic institutions like the judiciary and media, and solidifying their power by altering constitutional norms. When these leaders face reelection, the process might appear free, but it has lost its fairness, as the conditions for fair competition have eroded.
The global trend is concerning, with a significant number of the 43 countries projected to have free and fair elections in this electoral megacycle not meeting the fundamental conditions for democratic voting. Moreover, eight of the world’s most populous nations, including India, Mexico, and the U.S., all facing elections this year, are wrestling with challenges such as safeguarding voter participation, preserving free speech, and maintaining electoral independence amid a backdrop of rising authoritarianism.
But what does it mean to have a free and fair election? Is it possible to have a free but unfair election? And how unfair does it have to be to no longer be democratic? These are some questions that can have an answer in 2024.
