Guardians of Democracy: The Effect of Volunteer Observers on Electoral Integrity

• In Event: Increasing Confidence in Elections

Abstract

Elections are subject to various flaws influencing their quality and effectiveness (Norris, 2015). For example, ballot tampering, inadequate polling infrastructure and lack of transparency in vote counting can compromise the integrity of the electoral process. Electoral observers play a pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity and transparency of elections globally. Existing research predominantly examines the impact of international monitoring on electoral fairness. This study redirects focus to domestic and volunteer observers—an area notably less explored (Grömping, 2017). Specifically, it examines the role of Oy ve Otesi (OvO), a civil society organization that mobilizes volunteers for election observation in Turkey. Leveraging a unique dataset that combines open electoral data supplied by the Supreme Election Council of Turkey and data provided by OvO, I investigate the impact of deploying volunteers to various electoral districts in the general and presidential elections since 2014 in Turkey. Utilizing a difference-in-differences approach, I evaluate the effect of volunteer observers on the tally of invalid votes and their subsequent validation via legal challenges. My analysis reveals a modest yet statistically significant enhancement of electoral integrity by volunteer observers, evidenced by the reduction of invalid ballots and rectification of vote counts post-legal challenges. This study contributes to the broader understanding of civil society's role in promoting fair and transparent elections and highlights the importance of volunteer observer missions in countries experiencing democratic backsliding.

Grömping, M. (2017). Domestic election monitoring and advocacy: An emerging research agenda. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, 35(4), 407-423.

Norris, P. (2015). Why elections fail. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781107280908

Author

• Simge Andi, University of Exeter