Perceived Fairness of the Last Election

Last updated: May 24, 2005

The following graph shows where respondents rated their perception of the fairness of the last election in their country, on average by election study. Significant variation in the degree of perceived fairness is revealed.

Last election was conducted...


The following table is based on the same data, but also includes the percent of respondents within each election study that provided each answer. This provides an understanding of the distribution around each average. Table percentages were calculated after excluding missing data.

Last election was conducted...

Percent of respondents answering...
Election Study Average Rating 1 (Fairly) 2 3 4 5 (Unfairly)
Denmark 1998
Norway 1997
Germany 1998
Netherlands 1998
Sweden 1998
Switzerland 1999
Portugal 2002
Iceland 1999
Hungary 1998
Great Britain 1997
Romania 1996
Spain 1996
Spain 2000
Czech Republic 1996
New Zealand 1996
United States 1996
Poland 1997
Canada 1997
Peru 2001
Slovenia 1996
Mexico 2000
Taiwan 1996
Russia 2000
Israel 1996
Mexico 1997
Belarus 2001
Hong Kong 1998
Hong Kong 2000
Lithuania 1997
Russia 1999
Japan 1996
Ukraine 1998
Thailand 2001
South Korea 2000
Peru 2000 		1.20
1.29
1.36
1.41
1.42
1.44
1.64
1.66
1.66
1.68
1.71
1.74
1.77
1.80
1.88
1.91
1.94
2.00
2.02
2.04
2.13
2.19
2.22
2.30
2.38
2.39
2.51
2.52
2.54
2.70
2.76
2.98
3.02
3.03
3.50 		88.7
82.0
75.6
70.4
75.5
74.4
64.7
59.5
59.3
56.2
62.2
62.6
56.0
46.5
45.9
48.2
46.5
35.2
48.0
45.5
51.1
37.8
44.2
38.5
43.9
45.4
18.1
17.6
30.6
25.5
19.2
22.8
22.9
10.6
19.9 		6.2
11.2
15.5
21.1
12.5
14.0
16.7
24.4
22.6
24.7
19.4
17.4
23.8
33.3
29.6
26.3
25.7
36.1
22.0
22.3
15.6
24.4
19.7
24.1
13.9
14.2
38.5
33.7
25.2
19.2
23.0
14.2
14.2
20.1
9.8 		3.0
3.8
7.2
6.6
7.8
6.8
11.6
9.9
13.2
15.6
9.2
8.8
11.7
15.6
18.1
15.7
18.5
23.4
15.9
20.9
14.5
23.8
17.2
17.7
19.3
12.9
24.0
31.6
18.0
28.6
30.6
28.1
25.4
38.5
16.4 		1.1
2.1
0.7
1.3
3.0
2.6
4.3
3.5
2.6
2.2
3.6
6.1
4.8
3.1
3.7
6.4
5.6
3.9
8.4
5.0
6.7
8.7
8.3
8.4
6.5
11.5
13.2
14.2
11.9
13.2
16.8
12.3
13.2
17.1
8.5 		1.1
1.0
1.0
0.6
1.2
2.1
2.7
2.7
2.3
1.4
5.6
5.1
3.8
1.5
2.7
3.5
3.7
1.4
5.7
6.3
12.1
5.3
10.6
11.3
16.4
16.0
6.2
3.1
14.3
13.5
10.3
22.5
24.2
13.6
45.5


Data Source:
CSES Module 1: August 4, 2003 version

Variables Used:
CSES Module 1: A3002

Question Text:
In some countries, people believe their elections are conducted fairly. In other countries, people believe that their elections are conducted unfairly. Thinking of the last election in [country], where would you place it on this scale of one to five where ONE means that the last election was conducted fairly and FIVE means that the last election was conducted unfairly?

Weights Used:
CSES Module 1: A1010_1 (Sample Weight)

Notes:
  • Australia 1996, Belgium-Flanders 1999, Belgium-Walloon 1999, and Chile 1999 do not appear because their data for CSES Module 1 does not include this question.
  • This question was not included in CSES Module 2.
  • Please see original codebook for notes specific to each country and election study.

    • Questions? E-mail cses@umich.edu Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, www.cses.org