Electoral Reforms, Integrity and Dominance in Modern Democracies

The most important things to preserve people’s trust in democracies are to reform and ensure the integrity of elections. The majority of democracies today struggle with a lack of confidence in free and fair elections and their procedures. The world strongest democracy USA has accused the Russia of meddling in the election through propaganda and misinformation efforts. Cultural rights and issues like immigration, populism, and living standards are also causing polarization in the EU countries, which has led to the rise of nationalist and religious parties by dividing people in an attempt to win elections.
The dominance of political parties that wield power and exert influence over institutions through patrimonialism and clan politics is causing problems for the democracies in South and Central Asia. In developing nations where a sizable portion of the population is still illiterate and experiencing the effects of digital divides, the use of ICT (information and communication technology) in electoral processes like electronic voting machines (EVMs) is a double-edged sword. In addition to being the greatest democracy still in existence, India is claiming its economic potential to assist its sizable populace, which continues to struggle with poverty and illiteracy. The dominance of one party has hampered the development and extension of regional and other smaller parties in South and Central Asian nations including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, and India.
For democracy to endure in any nation, the electoral integrity of its institutions is essential. Anarchy and coups in Bangladesh in 2024 have been encouraged by the country's declining trust in state institutions. The biggest challenge to democracies worldwide is the decline in public trust in institutions and leaders, which has left Uganda, Sudan, and Somalia in their early stages of democracy. Despite this, many nations still hold out hope for democracy in less underdeveloped countries. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly examine the restoration and revitalization of confidence in holding free and fair elections.