Public Opinion Quarterly

Public Opinion Quarterly

Oxford University Press

Deadline: Tue, 14 Mar 2023

Contact: nicholaskerr@ufl.edu


Web Link

Journal/Call for Papers Description

Call for papers is currently open for a special issue of the Public Opinion Quarterly journal on "Public Trust in Elections". Public Opinion Quarterly is a journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) published by Oxford University Press. Published since 1937, it is among the most frequently cited journals of its kind (impact factor 4.616).

For this special issue, the journal invites contributions that advance our collective knowledge on public trust in elections and electoral institutions - broadly conceived to include studies of legitimacy, confidence, and related constructs. Research on all countries is welcome. Guest editors of the special issue are Nicholas N. Kerr, University of Florida (nicholaskerr@ufl.edu); Bridgett A. King, Auburn University (bak0020@auburn.edu); Michael Wahman, Michigan State University (wahmanmi@msu.edu).

Submissions deadline: 14 March 2023.


Special Issue: Public Trust in Elections

Elections are central institutions in participatory democracies but remain logistically challenging and potentially divisive events. While the quality of elections varies significantly within and between countries, there is no one-to-one relationship between objective measures and citizens' perceptions of electoral legitimacy or the extent to which they trust elections or the institutions that organize them. Establishing free and fair elections is not enough; public confidence and trust in elections is equally crucial to legitimize democracy and reduce inter-group political conflict. Recent elections and citizen experiences in the United States, Honduras, and Kenya, countries that are markedly different, have shown how the legitimacy of elections often becomes politicized, with devastating consequences that continue to matter long after the ballots are counted, and winners announced. On the other hand, blind trust in elections and the outcomes produced in the presence of serious manipulation is equally problematic. Such trust may provide de facto authoritarian regimes undeserved democratic legitimacy and longevity.