A recent report published by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) has raised concerns about the state of global democracy, highlighting a decline in the quality of elections and a worrisome rise in election denial by losing candidates. The report, released on Tuesday, paints a bleak picture, revealing that last year marked the worst performance for "free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight" ever recorded by IDEA. Additionally, it marked the eighth consecutive year of declining overall democratic performance since the institute began documenting data in 1975.

Kevin Casas-Zamora, the secretary-general of IDEA, stressed the urgent need for action to protect democratic elections. He emphasized that the success of democracy hinges on the reliability of elections, stating, "The success of democracy depends on many things, but it becomes utterly impossible if elections fail."

The report's analysis reveals that between 2020 and 2024, almost 20% of global elections witnessed losing candidates rejecting the outcome. Notably, the report mentions former US President Donald Trump's vehement attacks on the 2020 election results, branding it as "one of the most extreme examples" of election denial in recent years. This was followed by the violent insurrection at the US Capitol.

While the report acknowledges some progress in US elections since 2021, it deems it insufficient to reverse the decline that has taken place. It raises concern about Trump potentially denying the election results again should he lose in November, as he is running for president once more.

Globally, the report highlights that one in three voters currently resides in a country where the quality of elections is deteriorating. This decline has further resulted in a decrease in electoral participation, reflecting the erosion of trust in the voting process.

To address these alarming trends and restore faith in electoral systems, the report urges governments to take various measures. These include responding vigilantly to baseless accusations that aim to damage people's perception of electoral integrity, as well as expanding ballot access in consultation with the public.

The report concludes by emphasizing the critical need to reinforce public trust in elections, stating, "If elections are to continue to act as the foundation stones of democratic systems, it is critical to reinforce public trust in them. Integrating popular opinion into the activities of the electoral cycle is one important step in this process."

The findings of this report underscore the growing threat to global democracy, emphasizing the urgency for collective action to safeguard the integrity of elections and protect the fundamental principles of democracy worldwide.