When Electoral Integrity is at Risk: Democracy, Fraud, and Institutions in Latin America
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26851/RUCP.33.10Keywords:
Democracy, Latin America, Electoral Fraud, Electoral IntegrityAbstract
How do the characteristics of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) affect electoral fraud? This study investigates how the institutional design of EMBs influences the occurrence of electoral fraud and explores the relationship between different EMB characteristics and various types of fraud. Recent literature underscores the significance of EMB autonomy from public administration and effective institutional design. Utilizing the Electoral Integrity Project (EIP) database, the research examines elections in Latin American countries. The study finds that EMB autonomy and institutional capacity have a significant impact on electoral integrity. Moreover, the presence of electoral observers is linked to a reduction in fraud. By establishing a descriptive association between the independent variable (EMB) and the dependent variable (Fraud), and including variables related to the participation of electoral observers, the study identifies patterns in these relationships within Latin America. These findings suggest that enhancing EMB autonomy and capacity can improve electoral integrity, offering valuable insights for electoral management reforms.
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