Measuring Perceptions of Electoral Integrity: MRes Thesis

Measuring Public Perceptions of Electoral Integrity

Researchers generally agree that public confidence in the electoral process is central to the legitimacy of elected representatives and the functioning of democracy. However, studies have deviated in how they define and measure this all-important concept. This research seeks to use qualitative and quantitative evidence from the 2019 voter ID trials in England in order to propose a means by which public confidence can be better understood. Most importantly, this research provides a methodological critique for how confidence in the electoral process has previously been measured, and how previous attempts to measure the concept can be improved and validated through the use of a mixed-methods approach. Finally, this study examines the future of research on public perceptions of electoral integrity in England and how the use of qualitative and quantitative techniques can help to illuminate this phenomenon both as it exists in the UK and in other states. Overall it will be concluded that there is much we do not yet know about the phenomenon, but the method presented here suggests one way to proceed.