Causes and Consequences of Confidence in Democratic Elections

Todd Donovan and Shaun Bowler
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Todd Donovan: Department of Political Science, Western Washington University, USA
Shaun Bowler: Department of Political Science, University of California ‐ Riverside, USA

Politics and Governance, 2026, vol. 14

Abstract: In this editorial, we examine trends over time and cross-national variation in attitudes toward democracy and elections, and explore the correlates of low confidence in elections, particularly focusing on the countries covered in the studies presented in this thematic issue. Using the World Values Survey measure of confidence in elections, we assess cross-country variation and show how this measure correlates with specific attitudes toward elections, as well as with low confidence in institutions and organizations broadly. We present potential causes of low confidence in elections identified by the studies in this issue: Elite attacks on electoral integrity, right-wing populism, partisan winner/loser effects, and the quality of election administration. We conclude by considering the consequences of low confidence in elections identified by the studies here.

Keywords: confidence; democracy; elections; electoral integrity; populism; trust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:poango:v14:y:2026:a:12489

DOI: 10.17645/pag.12489

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