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Electoral Fraud or Violence: The Effect of Observers on Party Manipulation Strategies

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  • Asunka, Joseph
  • Brierley, Sarah
  • Golden, Miriam
  • Kramon, Eric
  • Ofosu, George

Abstract

This article reports on the effects of domestic election observers on electoral fraud and violence. Using an experimental research design and polling station data on fraud and violence during Ghana’s 2012 elections, it shows that observers reduced fraud and violence at the polling stations which they monitored. It is argued that local electoral competition shapes party activists’ response to observers. As expected, in single-party dominant areas, parties used their local political networks to relocate fraud to polling stations without an election observer, and, in contrast, party activists relocated violence to stations without observers in competitive areas – a response that requires less local organizational capacity. This highlights how local party organization and electoral incentives can shape the manipulative electoral strategies employed by parties in democratic elections.

Suggested Citation

  • Asunka, Joseph & Brierley, Sarah & Golden, Miriam & Kramon, Eric & Ofosu, George, 2019. "Electoral Fraud or Violence: The Effect of Observers on Party Manipulation Strategies," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(1), pages 129-151, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:49:y:2019:i:01:p:129-151_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Ursula Daxecker, 2020. "Unequal votes, unequal violence: Malapportionment and election violence in India," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(1), pages 156-170, January.
    2. Sarah Birch & Ursula Daxecker & Kristine Höglund, 2020. "Electoral violence: An introduction," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(1), pages 3-14, January.
    3. Ananyev, Maxim & Poyker, Michael, 2022. "Do dictators signal strength with electoral fraud?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Fałkowski, Jan & Kurek, Przemysław J., 2021. "The power of social mobilisation: The impact of monitoring the 2015 presidential elections in Poland," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 38-58.

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