election

An election is a formal process by which eligible people vote to choose public representatives or to decide on public policies. It serves as a mechanism for transferring political authority and expressing the citizenry's preferences in a peaceful, orderly manner. Elections are organized within legal frameworks that define who may vote, how votes are cast, and how results are determined.

Elections differ in purpose and method. General elections select national or regional legislatures or executives; local elections choose municipal officials; by-elections fill vacancies; referendums or plebiscites decide specific policy questions. Voting methods include first-past-the-post, proportional representation, ranked-choice, and mixed systems. Outcomes are certified by electoral authorities and may be subject to legal challenges.

The electoral process typically includes voter registration, candidate nomination, campaigning, casting ballots, vote counting, result certification, and the peaceful transfer of power. Electoral administration aims to ensure secrecy, accuracy, accessibility, and integrity. Eligibility rules usually require citizenship, a minimum age, and residency; some groups may be restricted or temporarily disenfranchised, and movements to expand or restore suffrage are ongoing in many jurisdictions.

Integrity and legitimacy depend on safeguards against fraud or coercion, transparency in procedures, independent oversight, and often domestic or international observation. Efforts to combat misinformation, ensure equal access to polling places, and protect security of vote data are common features of modern elections.

Across systems, elections are dynamic components of democracy, providing a mechanism for accountability and informed political change, while remaining subject to legal challenges, political polarization, and evolving technological risks.