History of Election in Timeline
Elections are a critical component of democratic societies, providing a structured process for citizens to choose their representatives. Through voting, the public selects individuals to hold public office and make decisions on their behalf. This process ensures accountability and empowers the populace to influence the direction of their government. Elections can take various forms, each with its own set of rules and procedures. The frequency and nature of elections are often defined within a country's constitution or legal framework. While essential for representative governance, the effectiveness of elections hinges on factors like voter turnout, accessibility, and the integrity of the process itself.
1920: Universal Adult Male Suffrage
By 1920, with the exception of Switzerland, all Western European and North American democracies had adopted universal adult male suffrage. This marked a significant step towards broader political inclusion, though questions of suffrage for other groups, notably women, remained.
1927: Liberian General Election
In the 1927 Liberian general election, Charles D. B. King was declared the winner with an implausible number of votes, exceeding the eligible voter count by a significant margin.
1928: Sham Elections in Portugal
In 1928, sham elections were held in Portugal.
1929: Sham Elections in Fascist Italy
Sham elections were held in Fascist Italy in 1929, marking a suppression of democratic processes.
1929: Start of Sham Elections in Mexico
Starting in 1929, a series of sham presidential elections took place in Mexico under the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), marking a long period of single-party rule.
1934: Sham Elections in Fascist Italy
Sham elections occurred again in Fascist Italy in 1934, furthering the erosion of democratic practices.
1935: Sham Elections in Portugal
In 1935, sham elections were held in Portugal.
1940: Sham Elections in Stalinist Occupied Territories
In 1940, sham elections were conducted by Stalinist regimes in occupied Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, ostensibly to legitimize Soviet control.
1942: Sham Elections in Imperial Japan
A sham general election took place in Imperial Japan in 1942.
1946: Start of US Foreign Electoral Intervention
Documented interference by the United States in foreign elections began in 1946.
1949: Sham Elections in Portugal
In 1949, sham elections were held in Portugal.
1951: Sham Elections in Portugal
In 1951, sham elections were held in Portugal.
1958: Sham Elections in Portugal
In 1958, sham elections were held in Portugal.
1962: Aboriginal Suffrage in Australia
In 1962, Aboriginal people in Australia were finally granted the right to vote, marking a significant milestone in their fight for political equality.
1967: 1967 Referendum in Australia
In 1967, a referendum was held related to the inclusion of Aboriginal Australians. Specific details about the content of this referendum are needed for a comprehensive description.
1982: End of Sham Elections Period in Mexico
The period of sham elections in Mexico, dominated by the PRI, lasted until 1982.
1988: First Competitive Presidential Election in Mexico
The 1988 Mexican presidential election marked the first seriously competitive election in modern Mexican history, although allegations of rigging persisted.
1990: Myanmar General Election
The 1990 Myanmar general election saw the government-backed National Unity Party unexpectedly lose to the opposition National League for Democracy. The regime, anticipating a victory, subsequently annulled the results.
1991: Sham Kazakh Presidential Election
The 1991 Kazakh presidential election was considered a sham election.
1994: First Fair Election in Mexico
In 1994, the first truly fair election was held in Mexico, signifying a crucial step toward democratic governance.
1995: Sham Presidential Referendum in Iraq
A sham presidential referendum was held in Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 1995.
2000: End of Documented US Foreign Electoral Intervention Period
The documented period of US foreign electoral intervention, spanning from 1946 to 2000, encompassed interference in 81 elections.
2000: First Opposition Win in Mexican Presidential Election
The year 2000 marked a historic turning point in Mexican politics, with the opposition finally winning the presidential election, ending decades of PRI rule.
2002: Sham Presidential Referendum in Iraq
Another sham presidential referendum took place in Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 2002.
2010: Voting Rights Restricted for Prisoners in Australia
In 2010, the Australian federal government removed the voting rights of prisoners serving sentences of three years or more. This decision disproportionately affected Aboriginal Australians, who are overrepresented in the prison population.
2012: Most Expensive Election Campaign (USA)
The 2012 United States presidential election became the most expensive election campaign in history, with a total expenditure of US$7 billion.
2014: Sham Elections and Referendums related to Crimea and Donbass
Sham elections and referendums were held in Crimea and Donbass in 2014 under Russian influence, raising significant international concern.
2014: Second Most Expensive Election Campaign (India)
The 2014 Indian general election was the second most expensive election campaign at the time, costing US$5 billion.
2018: Intense Foreign Electoral Interventions
In 2018, significant foreign electoral interventions, involving the spread of disinformation, were observed. China targeted Taiwan, and Russia focused on Latvia. Other notable interventions occurred in Bahrain, Qatar, and Hungary.
2018: Sham Venezuelan Presidential Election
The 2018 Venezuelan presidential election was widely criticized as a sham election, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the outcome.
2019: Sham Kazakh Presidential Election
The 2019 Kazakh presidential election was considered a sham election.
2022: Annexation Referendum in Russian-Occupied Ukraine
An annexation referendum was held in Russian-occupied Ukraine in 2022, further escalating geopolitical tensions.
2024: Sham Venezuelan Presidential Election
The 2024 Venezuelan presidential election was widely criticized as a sham election, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the outcome.