GENEVA – As Americans go to vote on November 4th, only half the nation (43%) believes elections in their country are free and fair; whereas 46% place trust in the fairness of elections. Shockingly, despite all the fanfare that goes with the US elections, only 21% believe their country is ruled by the will of the people whereas 66% think that despite choosing a government through elections, they are in fact NOT ruled by the will of the people. These findings have emerged from a 55-nation poll carried out by Gallup International. Approximately 60,000 interviews were carried out in 55 countries. In the United States a national sample of 1000 men and women were interviewed earlier this year.
In the 55-nation poll covering all continents, the United States scores quite poorly on Democracy Indices. On the perception of free and fair elections, it ranks well below average at number 37 among 55 nations. Denmark (with 86% saying elections in their country are free and fair) tops and Ukraine (where 9% say elections in their country are free and fair) ranks at the bottom of Perceived Fairness of Elections Index. By way of comparison, Pakistan ranks at 46 (with 28% saying elections in their country are free and fair)
