How to Rig an Election

An engrossing guide to fraudulent elections around the world―fully updated to mark the biggest election year in history in 2024, as over four billion people cast their votes
 
Contrary to popular belief, authoritarian leaders who hold elections are generally able to remain in power for longer. Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas show us how they do so, exploring election-rigging strategies including gerrymandering and ballot-box stuffing, voter suppression, and fake news. Documenting pseudo-democratic methods from Argentina and Zimbabwe to Brazil, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States, they offer a sobering view of corrupted political process―while offering hope for future solutions.

Review

"Democracy is in a worldwide recession dating back at least a decade, as unscrupulous and powerful people successfully abuse every part of the electoral process. That is the depressing message of this lively book. . . . [Cheesman and Klaas's] chirpy tone belies the thorough research and bleak message."--Edward Lucas, Times (UK)

"Excellent."--Richard Cockett, Literary Review

"In How to Rig an Election, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas describe how--in contrast to historic autocrats who boosted their status by bumping off their opponents--modern ones do so by holding cosmetic, compromised elections; 'by using the image of democracy to entrench authoritarian rule.'"--Eliane Glaser, Times Literary Supplement

"How to Rig an Election is not just a fascinating read, but offers opposition parties, civil society and voters precious tools to preempt the worst abuses."--Michela Wrong, The Spectator (Books of the Year 2018)

"How to Rig an Election is a reader-friendly anatomy of electoral fraud and malpractice. . . . This work should elicit the applause and gratitude of democracy professionals worldwide for presenting these challenges to a broad audience in an accessible and persuasive manner. It should be read by policymakers, students and general audiences concerned with the state of democracy in the world today."--Gabrielle Bardall, Democratization

"The book is full of remarkable stories from actual elections and some of them remain lodged in my mind. . . . You feel like you have read a collection of short stories with a potential to speak to a broad readership."--Ivan Jarabinksky, Swiss Political Science Review

"Essential reading for everyone who wants to get democracy right again."--A. C. Grayling, author of War

"Cheeseman and Klaas hit the nail on the head: in many countries elections are a sham. The problem is getting worse, while the international community connives at being deceived. The implications for public policy are profound and will take years to digest. An excellent book."--Sir Paul Collier, author of Wars, Guns and Votes

"A concise, penetrating examination of why and how a growing number of governments are rigging elections, brimming with telling examples and practical recommendations for how concerned international actors can do more to help reverse this disturbing global trend."--Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

"Rigging elections has become an art to which the most impressive array of resources are brought to bear even in the poorest countries. This work is a most timely addition to all who care about this important piece in the great democratic jigsaw on which so many basic freedoms depend."--John Githongo

"Drawing on a rich evidence base, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas explain why authoritarian leaders can get away with setting up counterfeit democracies, and how to put an end to this façade. This book adopts a novel approach and is clear, engaging, beautifully written, and utterly compelling. One of my favourite books of the year."--Alice Evans, King's College, London

 

 

 

About the Author

Nic Cheeseman is professor of democracy and international relations at the University of Birmingham and founding editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of African Politics. Brian Klaas is associate professor of global politics at University College London and the author of Fluke.