biometric voter registration

Maïlys Chauvin’s account of election preparations in Zanzibar highlights a number of worrying developments that challenges “received wisdom” about good governance in Tanzania and electoral credibility.

Jonathan Bhalla reflects on striking similarities between elections in Ghana and Sierra Leone which both saw high turnout, the successful introduction of new technologies and first round victories for the incumbent.

This Briefing Note examines some essential traits of recent African elections and considers their implications for future contests.

Multi-party elections are a salient feature of Africa’s rapidly evolving political landscape. International support for elections is prioritised above all other strategies for consolidating democracy. The legacies of political reform are diverse, and variable. Technology, natural...