Image Courtesy: The Guardin
NewDelhi: The oldest democracy is due to go to the polls in less than a month. The U S been having its general elections where the voters elect the next Presidents and Vice Presidents on the 5th of November in the year 2024. Under the context of being referred to as ‘ the beacon of democracy and freedom of speech’ the stakes of this election are high, more so bearing in mind that half of the globe will have conducted their election by when people in this country will be voting. As the world looks at America’s democratic process, one can take a look at democracy in other countries that have conducted elections this year.
Global Elections in 2024
Until May 2024, 67 nations, totaling 3.4 billion people, have taken part in national elections. It has made stationing elections including those that are similar to parliamentary elections across various continents. Furthermore, up to 440 million people in the other countries will take part in the elections before the end of this year.
Nevertheless, the problem of the election unfairness remains topical globally. Latest research carried out by American think tank Freedom House reveals that one in three voters across the world is living in a country where electoral fairness has deteriorated badly in the last one year or so let alone the last five years. This rising concern has further enhanced the major worry involving voter manipulation and election, in many parts of the globe.
Is It Today’s Election Really Free?
International electoral practitioners are paying more attention to the impact of fake news and the consideration of AI as a tool for agenda manipulation on voters. What’s more, Kevin Casas-Zamora of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance think that such concerns might be partly true. Casas-Zamora said in an interview with The Economist, “In Taiwan this year the Chinese tried to apply pressure, but people chose William Lai as their president. Similarly, in Moldova although Russia has threatened the nation, Moldova is proceeding towards its presidential election on 20 October. He said that influence efforts are present but do not mean that voters themselves are no longer in charge.
The voter power shines through in the UK
People still have the power in the democracies worldwide as evidenced by the UK, especially this year. The arm of the opposition which has been Labour Party emerged the winner in the general election to occupy 412 among the 650 parliament seats. Keir Starmer and the Labour Party won the election with a majority of the seats not witnessed since 1997, with the party booting out Rishi Sunak. This result was especially considered as an indicator of the absence of voters’ confidence in Sunak’s economic agenda while emphasising that people remain sensible to real-life concerns.
The British election confirms the idea that though there can be fake news circulated, people’s authority is still great. The public realised that economic status had worsened under Sunak and they resorted to canvassing a change.
Democracy and elections alone do not make a country free
Emerging from the further thinking of the human rights principles bound up with democracy, it is obvious that holding an election does not necessarily mean a fair and free political environment. An excellent example is Bangladesh; its political situation indicates this problem. The incumbent Sheikh Hasina continued her third consecutive term in power through the general election held in January 2024. However, her victory was marked by protests, political instabilities, and with the main opposition party boycotting. Finally, the tension drove her out of the country where she sought asylum in India.
Across the border in Pakistan, former Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to be detained after a regime change- proving that the gestural reversals in government do not always translate to security or liberty.
The World’s Focus on the American Vote
Now, as the election of the USA nears scrutiny and observation become closer than a bond between twins. So as to determine who is leading this race the current Vice President Kamala Harris is on the other side while the former President of America Donald Trump is on the other side of this divide hence making this race to generally be closely fought one. People also are concerned how the next American president will handle today’s conflicts around the Middle East and many more other global crises such as the recent Israel-Hamas conflict.
The United States, which is considered an example of democracy to other countries, will be on the spot. People are ready to find out how the future election will influence the further position of the country as the promoter of peace and stability in the world today.
The up and coming American Election is expected to be one of the most transformative in the last decades. As the rest of the world worries about the legitimacy of their own voting systems, the result of the American vote will impact not only the American people, but the world’s system as well. As people in the United States get ready for polls, the world awaits what new course the oldest democracy will chart.