LAW 680 - Comparative Election Law

2024 has been called the year of elections as more than 60 percent of the world’s population participated in one or more electoral exercises. These elections occurred in the shadow of what has been characterized as an extended global democratic recession, which has now lasted more than 18 years.
Across the globe, many electoral processes have obvious similarities, but their differences reflect a combination of historical development, political struggles, and logistical considerations. While several of the 2024 elections reflect adherence to sound democratic practice, others serve as harbingers of populist discontent, promote illiberal forms democracy, and cause continued conflict and instability.
This mini-course will begin with an overview of different philosophical conceptions of the term “electoral democracy.” We will then address the electoral practices of several countries across five distinct subjects: choice of election systems; mechanics of election administration and uses of technology; voting rights and limitations on the franchise; campaign financing; and electoral dispute resolution.
In considering these issues, we will examine decisions by courts operating under different legal regimes, standards established by various international treaties and declarations, and the role of external actors in shaping electoral processes. And as we review the electoral practices of various, we will consider their potential relevance to electoral reform in the United States.