Electoral systems, practices, and public trust in Africa: Patterns, challenges, and democratic innovations

Across the African continent, the study of electoral systems and practices has emerged as a central concern within political science. Over the past three decades, numerous African states have pursued governance reforms featuring constitutional redesigns, new electoral laws, and institutional restructuring aimed at consolidating democracy. While these reforms have produced modest gains in terms of participation and representation, serious concerns remain about their ability to create systems perceived as legitimate, inclusive, transparent, and trustworthy. Persistent variations in electoral integrity, disputes over results, the politicization of election management bodies, and uneven adoption of digital technologies continue to challenge the credibility of democratic transitions. Recent research highlights both positive innovations—such as biometric voter registration and gender quotas—and persistent setbacks, including disinformation, electoral violence, and weak enforcement of campaign finance regulations. However, comparative analyses linking electoral design, practice, and public trust remain limited. There is a growing need to explore systematically how different electoral systems shape political behavior and citizens’ faith in institutions across diverse African contexts.This Research Topic aims to deepen scholarly understanding of the complex relationships among electoral systems, electoral practices, and public trust in Africa. It seeks to examine how institutional architectures affect political participation, representation, and perceptions of fairness, and to identify the contextual factors that strengthen or weaken citizens’ trust in democratic governance. Through interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives, the topic invites empirical case studies, theoretical reflections, and policy-oriented analysis. Key questions include the role of electoral management in shaping legitimacy, the impact of technology on transparency, and how public trust evolves in response to institutional innovations or crises.To gather further insights into electoral governance and democratic consolidation across African countries, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Comparative analyses of proportional, majoritarian, and mixed systems in fostering legitimacy and representation• The role of election management bodies and oversight mechanisms in ensuring electoral integrity• The influence of campaign finance regulations and political party systems on public trust• The use of technology in voter registration, vote counting, and electoral transparency• The resolution of electoral disputes and their impact on post-election stability• Citizens’ perceptions of fairness, transparency, and participation in electoral processes• Cross-national and subregional differences in the development of democratic trust in Africa Topic editors: Kolapo Quadri Abayomi, J. Shola Omotola, Leo Igbanoi, Ganiyu Ejalonibu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84015/electoral-systems-practices-and-public-trust-in-africa-patterns-challenges-and-democratic-innovations