Democracy declined for 8th straight year, institute finds [Video]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark –

Last year had the worst decline in credible elections and parliamentary oversight in almost a half-century, driven by government intimidation, foreign interference, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence in campaigns, an organization promoting democracy said Tuesday.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, or International IDEA, said election credibility is threatened by turnout dropping and results are increasingly being contested. One in three elections are being disputed in some way, it said.

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The organization with 35 member governments said the average percentage of the voting age population who actually cast ballots has declined from 65.2 per cent in 2008 to 55.5 per cent in 2023.

“Elections remain the single best opportunity to end democratic backsliding and turn the tide in democracy’s favor,” said International IDEA’s Secretary-General, Kevin Casas-Zamora. “The success of democracy depends on many things, but it becomes …