Democracy Under Strain
The 2024 election year saw over 2 billion voters across 70 countries. Incumbent parties lost ground globally, driven by inflation, immigration, and institutional distrust. Disinformation amplified by AI-generated content affected campaigns worldwide. Several countries strengthened election integrity measures, including paper ballot audits and digital literacy programs. The trend of democratic backsliding noted by Freedom House continued in some regions, while others saw democratic renewal. The health of global democracy remains contested.