Delivering electoral integrity under pressure: Local government, electoral administration, and the 2016 Brexit referendum

James, Toby S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5826-5461 and Clark, Alistair (2021) Delivering electoral integrity under pressure: Local government, electoral administration, and the 2016 Brexit referendum. Local Government Studies, 47 (2). pp. 186-207. ISSN 0300-3930

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Abstract

The management and delivery of elections is a core task for local government officials in many countries, but often overlooked by research and policy makers. This article charts the nature and consequences of emerging pressures on local government officials to deliver high profile electoral events in an established democracy. Through a rigorous and comprehensive survey of local electoral administrators and in-depth interviews, it examines how electoral administration functioned in the 2016 UK Brexit referendum. In so doing, it provides broader lessons about the dynamics of electoral integrity at the local level. Problems with insufficient funds, growing distrust of public officials and late legislation were particularly problematic. Inappropriate campaigner behaviour was concentrated amongst Leave campaigners, reflecting new challenges for electoral integrity as populist movements arise. Problems were less frequent in Scotland, suggesting that different organisational factors are important. The effects of funding deficiencies suggest that austerity agendas can affect electoral integrity.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: brexit,local government,electoral administration,electoral integrity,electoral management,referendums,development,sociology and political science ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3303
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Policy & Politics
Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Political, Social and International Studies
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2019 02:01
Last Modified: 27 Nov 2024 10:26
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/73116
DOI: 10.1080/03003930.2020.1719075

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