1. What are four determinants of electoral integrity? Describe the effect of each.
In a world of increasing government elections, electoral integrity is more important now
than ever before. The conduct of elections needs to be appropriate and moral, meeting standards
of fairness. After all, if an election is not fair, then how can a country expect its next rulers to
bring fair policies? The Electoral Integrity Project run by Pippa Norris indicates multiple factors
that go into electoral integrity. Four huge determinants are structural constraints within a country,
the level of international integration, institutional design and electoral management bodies.
The structural constraints imposed on a country can drastically affect electoral integrity.
The wealth of a country, its dependence on natural resources, tendency for conflict, and poor
geographic location are all factors that can make or break a proper election process. A poor
country that can’t handle the costs of an election will not execute it as well as a wealthier country
will. A wealthier country has more resources to devote to an election and has more opportunities
to persuade the country with that wealth. If a country depends on natural resources, the
incumbent or other ruling elites have the ability to manipulate elections through means of
suppressing and intimidating opponents. A country with deep levels of mistrust and a tendency
for violence can hinder the justness of an election. And finally, difficult-to-reach countries can
cause financial, technical, and other difficulties during an election. Any number of these
constraints can cause major damage to elections and result in malpractice.
The international relationships a country has can also be important. Regional
governmental organizations such as the European Union provide incentives for elections to
respect inherent rights and produce fair elections to keep good relationships. Without the
watchful eye of alliances or a liberal organization, lone countries or countries in a more
authoritarian group do not have the incentive to be moral in elections. Additionally, developing
