Protecting the Ballot

Viac o knihe

Between 1850 and 1918, first-wave democracies in Europe implemented electoral reforms to reduce misconduct. This analysis of parliamentary deliberations and roll-call votes in France, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom delves into how these reforms emerged. Various measures were introduced, including harsher penalties for bribery and the misuse of state resources during campaigns. Improvements in electoral secrecy enhanced voter autonomy, while requiring candidate representatives to oversee electoral processes diminished fraud. Isabela Mares highlights how divisions among elites enabled the formation of parliamentary majorities that supported these reforms, with the political makeup of these majorities varying by country and issue area. This variation depended on the distribution of political resources and the economic and electoral costs faced by politicians engaging in misconduct. By examining the electoral factors driving the demand for reforms, Mares presents an alternative perspective to theories of democratization that focus solely on economic factors. The study of successful reforms against electoral irregularities during early democratic transitions provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for combating electoral wrongdoing in contemporary democracies.