Perceptions versus Reality: Assessing Popular Evaluations of Election Quality in Africa

dc.contributor.authorKerr, Nicholas
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-29T07:39:21Z
dc.date.available2016-04-29T07:39:21Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.date.updated2016-04-29T07:27:20Z
dc.description.abstractIn this paper, I assess the determinants and validity of citizens' perceptions of election quality. First, I suggest that citizens' evaluation of the performance of election-related institutions is the most crucial determinant of their election quality perceptions; however, citizens' personal experience with electoral irregularities, and affiliation with electoral winners also matter. Second, I argue that citizens' election quality perceptions are generally indicative of prevailing trends within different stages of the election process. I expect citizens' perceptions to be correlated with other non-perception-based indicators of election quality. I test these hypotheses in the context of the 2007 Nigerian elections, using survey data from the Afrobarometer and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems along with original data coded from petitions filed in Nigerian Election Tribunals. The findings provide robust support for the hypotheses and underscore the importance of gauging citizens' perceptions of electoral quality. Most importantly, the results indicate that Nigerians were critical of the quality of the 2007 elections and demand electoral institutions with impartiality and professionalism.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationKerr, N. (2012). <i>Perceptions versus Reality: Assessing Popular Evaluations of Election Quality in Africa</i> University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Centre for Social Science Research(CSSR). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19309en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKerr, Nicholas <i>Perceptions versus Reality: Assessing Popular Evaluations of Election Quality in Africa.</i> University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Centre for Social Science Research(CSSR), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19309en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKerr, N. (2012). Perceptions versus reality: Assessing popular evaluations of election quality in Africa. Center for Social Science Research, Democracy in Africa Unit. Afrobarometer Working Papers, (137).en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Working Paper AU - Kerr, Nicholas AB - In this paper, I assess the determinants and validity of citizens' perceptions of election quality. First, I suggest that citizens' evaluation of the performance of election-related institutions is the most crucial determinant of their election quality perceptions; however, citizens' personal experience with electoral irregularities, and affiliation with electoral winners also matter. Second, I argue that citizens' election quality perceptions are generally indicative of prevailing trends within different stages of the election process. I expect citizens' perceptions to be correlated with other non-perception-based indicators of election quality. I test these hypotheses in the context of the 2007 Nigerian elections, using survey data from the Afrobarometer and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems along with original data coded from petitions filed in Nigerian Election Tribunals. The findings provide robust support for the hypotheses and underscore the importance of gauging citizens' perceptions of electoral quality. Most importantly, the results indicate that Nigerians were critical of the quality of the 2007 elections and demand electoral institutions with impartiality and professionalism. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2012 T1 - Perceptions versus Reality: Assessing Popular Evaluations of Election Quality in Africa TI - Perceptions versus Reality: Assessing Popular Evaluations of Election Quality in Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19309 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/19309
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKerr N. Perceptions versus Reality: Assessing Popular Evaluations of Election Quality in Africa. 2012 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19309en_ZA
dc.languageengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentCentre for Social Science Research(CSSR)en_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titlePerceptions versus Reality: Assessing Popular Evaluations of Election Quality in Africaen_ZA
dc.typeWorking Paperen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceResearch paperen_ZA
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