• 1 Definitions of democratic elections
• 2 Characteristics of elections
  • 2.1 Who can vote
  • 2.2 Who can be eligible to hold an office
  • 2.3 Nomination
  • 2.4 Who is elected
  • 2.5 Types of election
  • 2.6 Electoral systems
  • 2.7 Scheduling
• 3 Election campaigns
• 4 Difficulties with elections
  • 4.1 Show elections
  • 4.2 Bias and limited options
  • 4.3 Corruption of democracies
• 5 Elections around the world
• 6 See also
• 7 Bibliography
• 8 External links

Definitions of democratic elections

In political theory, the authority of the government in democracies derives solely from the consent of the governed. The principal mechanism for translating that consent into governmental authority is the holding of free and fair elections.

Characteristics of elections

Who can vote

The question of who may vote (suffrage) is a central issue in elections. The electorate does not generally include the entire population; for example, many countries prohibit those judged mentally incomptent from voting, and all jurisdictions require a minimum age for voting.

Who can be eligible to hold an office

Normally there is a citizenship requirement, an age requirement, a residency requirement, and, perhaps, a non-felon requirement.

Nomination

In a direct democracy, any eligible person can be nominated. In some countries, only members of a particular political party can be nominated. Or, an eligible person can be nominated through a petition; thus allowing him or her to be listed on a ballot. In the United States, for example, typically party candidates are required to have fewer signatures on petitions than non-party candidates.

Who is elected

The government positions for which elections are held vary depending on the locale. In a representative democracy, such as the United States, some positions are not filled through elections, especially those which are seen as requiring a certain competency or excellence. For example, judges are usually appointed rather than elected to help protect their impartiality. There are exceptions to this practice, however; some judges in the United States are elected, and in ancient Athens military generals were elected.

Types of election

In most democratic political systems, there are a range of different types of election, corresponding to different layers of public governance or geographical jurisdiction. Some common types of election are:

Electoral systems

Electoral systems refer to the detailed constitutional arrangements and voting systems which convert the vote into a determination of which individuals and political parties are elected to positions of power.

Scheduling

The nature of democracy is that elected officials are accountable to the people, and they must return to the voters at prescribed intervals to seek their mandate to continue in office. For that reason most democratic constitutions provide that elections are held at fixed regular intervals. In most states elections are held between every three and six years. There are exceptions to this; the U.S. House of Representives stands for election every two years, while the President of Ireland holds a largely ceremonial position for seven years.

Election campaigns

When elections are called, politicians and their supporters attempt to influence policy by competing directly for the votes of constituents in what are called campaigns. Supporters for a campaign can be either formally organized or loosely affiliated, and frequently utilize campaign advertising.

Difficulties with elections

Show elections

While all modern democracies hold regular elections, the converse is not true—not all elections are held by true democracies. Some governments employ other 'behind-the-scenes' means of candidate selection but organise a sham process that appears to be a genuine electoral contest, in order to present the façade of popular consent and support.

Bias and limited options

Further information: Criticisms of electoralism

Similar to the false diversity elections are those in which candidates are limited by undemocratic forces and biases. The Iranian form of government is one example of elections among limited options. In the 2004 Iranian parliamentary elections almost all of the reformist candidates were ruled unfit by the Guardian Council of religious leaders. According to the Iranian constitution this was fully within the Council's constitutional rights, and designed to prevent enemies of the Islamic Revolution from coming to power.

Corruption of democracies

The very openness of a democracy means that in many states it is possible for voters to vote to get rid of democracy itself.

Elections around the world

Further information: List of election results

See also

• List of politics-related topics

• Bipartidism
• Democracy
• Demarchy — "Democracy without Elections"
• Election administration
• Electoral calendar
• Election law
• Electoral fraud
• Criticisms of electoralism
• Electoral Reform
• Foreign interference with elections in democratic countries
• Full slate
• Fenno's Paradox
• Worldwide Electoral Calendar
• Garrat Elections
• Gerontocracy
• Meritocracy
• Pluralism
• Political campaigning
• Political science
• Polling station
• Sortition
• Allotment
• Appointment
• Voter turnout
• Close elections

Bibliography

• Mueller, Dennis C. 1996. Constitutional Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Riker, William. 1980. Liberalism Against Populism: A Confrontation Between the Theory of Democracy and the Theory of Social Choice. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.
• Ware, Alan. 1987. Citizens, Parties and the State. Princeton: Princeton University Press.