Democracy backsliding: Fewer people are voting, more doubt results

Copenhagen, Denmark: Last year had the worst decline in credible elections and parliamentary oversight in almost a half-century, driven by government intimidation, foreign interference, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence in campaigns, an organisation promoting democracy said on Tuesday.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, or International IDEA, said election credibility was threatened by turn-out dropping and results were increasingly being contested. One in three elections were being disputed in some way, it said.

Democracy sausages for sale outside the voting centre at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, in Canberra last year. Australia is proud of its democratic processes.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The organisation with 35 member governments said the average percentage of the voting age population who actually cast ballots has declined from 65.2 per cent in 2008 to 55.5 per cent in 2023.

“Elections remain the single best opportunity to end democratic backsliding and turn the tide in democracy’s favour,” said International IDEA’s Secretary-General, Kevin Casas-Zamora. “The success of democracy depends on many things, but it becomes utterly impossible if elections fail.”

The Stockholm-based organisation said its Global Report on the State of the Democracy, which has measured democratic performance in 158 countries since 1975, found that 47 per cent of countries have experienced a decline in key democratic indicators over the past five years, marking the eighth consecutive year of global democratic backsliding.

Globally, nearly 20 per cent of elections between 2020 and 2024, one of the losing candidates or parties rejected the result, and elections were being decided by court appeals at the same rate.

The report said 2023 was the worst year when it came to free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight.

Demonstrators during a vigil for the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny Progress in Riga, Latvia, earlier this year. Progress has notably been reported in Montenegro and Latvia.Credit: Bloomberg

There were threats of foreign interference, disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns. The declines span both traditionally strong democracies and fragile governments around the globe.

In Africa, democratic performance has generally remained stable over the past five years, with notable declines in the Sahel, particularly in coup-affected Burkina Faso which is one of a growing list of West African countries where the military has taken power, after accusing the elected governments of failing to keep their promises. IDEA noted that Burundi and Zambia have made notable improvements.

As to Western Asia, more than a third of countries performed poorly, while Europe has seen widespread declines in democratic aspects like the rule of law and civil liberties. However, progress has notably been reported in Montenegro and Latvia.

The study noted that the Americas have mostly maintained stability, but countries like Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay have experienced declines, particularly in rule of law and civil liberties.

Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region have seen minor declines or stability, with notable improvements in Fiji, the Maldives, and Thailand, the organisation said. However, the declines were significant in Afghanistan where the Taliban have not been recognised by any country as the legitimate rulers since they seized power in 2021, and in Myanmar, where opposition to a military takeover has deteriorated into a civil war.

AP