Judging elections and election management quality by process

In this paper, we propose and test a framework for analysing how ‘free and fair’ electoral processes are. We start from the assumption that a rational process must be capable of being reproduced by others according to a given standard of practice. The framework for analysis is based on eleven constituent parts of an electoral process, each of which can be gauged by performance indicators. Various methods of measuring these indicators are offered, and a weighting system is applied, according to whether the country involved is an established or fledgling democracy. This model is then illustrated by application to two established and four fledgling democracies.