Tagline
Search

Methodology on International IDEA's 2024 Global Elections Super-Cycle

 
 
National elections held in 2024*
 
Note on Methodology: The total number of national elections taking place in 2024 is determined by countries with representation in the United Nations (plus Taiwan) which are holding national elections (the current total is 64). These can be presidential elections, parliamentary/legislative elections, or general elections (a simultaneous legislative and presidential election like in the United States). 
 
In 2024, nine countries are either holding distinct presidential and parliamentary elections (e.g., North Macedonia) or are holding multiple elections in the same year (e.g., Bulgaria), which are counted separately for the purposes of determining the total number of national elections. In cases where elections involve multiple rounds of voting (e.g., France) or take place in geographically determined phases (e.g., India), elections are counted as one. 
 
In some cases, countries that had scheduled elections for 2024 have postponed their elections for an indeterminate amount of time during the Super-Cycle year (e.g., North Korea and Burkina Faso), these suspended elections are not counted towards the total number of national elections held in 2024 but are highlighted on the maps listed as TBD on the list of countries holding elections. Countries which had originally scheduled national elections for 2024 but postponed them prior to the beginning of the Super-Cycle year (e.g., Libya & Mali) are not included in the total count. Countries may announce national elections on short notice or due to unexpected circumstances (e.g., Iran), in which case the election is added to the total count.  

Decisions regarding the inclusion (or not) of elections that do not meet the above criteria, such as partial national elections, run-off elections, re-run elections, and elections for institutions not easily categorized as executive or legislative, will be deliberated internally on a case-by-case basis and documented accordingly.

The Super-Cycle tracks the European Parliamentary election as a single election rather than 27 separate elections. Information on the European Parliamentary Elections can be viewed from the designated button on the map, but it is not included in the total number of elections.

 

Total number of ballots cast in elections and the European Parliamentary Election**

Second Explanatory note on Methodology: The total number of ballots cast refers to an estimated total of the votes cast in the national elections being held in 2024, as well as the 2024 European Parliamentary Election, which while a supernational election is organized and held in accordance with the electoral laws of each of the 27 member states of the EU. 

This figure should not be confused with the total number of people participating in national elections; in some cases voters are eligible to take part in multiple elections–e.g., separate executive and legislative elections. Nor should it be confused with the total number of eligible voters, some of whom may choose not to exercise their right to participate in a national election.

In two-round elections (e.g., France) all ballots from both rounds are included in the total count. However, when determining the number of elections, a two-round election is only counted as a single event, as elections are only counted once.

The total number of ballots is based on the International IDEA Voter Turnout database, which is based on figures provided by national electoral management bodies and is regularly updated as data becomes available.
 

Close tooltip