Originally published in 1958 at a time when many African and Asian nations were newly independent or going through the process of independence, this book sets out the facts and arguments which have to be considered in designing and running electoral systems. The book treats the problems of free elections in Africa and Asia objectively and uncontroversially, without pre-supposing any previous training in political science. The discussion of 'free elections' raises large issues about political norms and ideologies and about the working of political systems in different societies, and the book tackles these questions head on. The book gives a balanced account of the whole issue of elections, covering on the one hand qualifications and voting systems, and on the other hand less ‘political’ questions of administration and control, which are of equal importance in the working of an electoral system.
1.Introductory Part 1: Voters and Candidates 2. The Voters – General Qualifications and Disqualifications 3. Special Qualifications 4. Communal Representation 5. The Candidates Part 2: Methods of Voting 6. Indirect Elections 7. The ‘First Past the Post’ System and its Variants 8. The Single Transferable Vote 9. List Systems of Proportional Representation 10. Electoral Engineering Part 3: Administration and Adjudication 11. Methods of Management 12. Delimitation of Constituencies 13. The Register 14. Polling Stations 15. Voting and Counting the Votes Part 4: Electoral Morality and Its Enforcement 16. The Main Issues 17. Intimidation and Public Order 18. Corrupt Practices 19. Money in Elections 20. Conclusion: The Pathology of Elections.
Biography
W.J.M. 'Bill' Mackenzie was Chair of Government and Administration at the University of Manchester and Professor of Politics at the University of Glasgow. He was a constitutional advisor to the new states of Tanganyika and Kenya.
Reviews of the original edition of Free Elections:
'Prof Mackenzie is to be congratulated...very useful and stimulating.' Political Quarterly
'For the first time the basic problems about franchise qualifications, methods of voting, and systems of administration have been classified in one book.' Journal of African Administration.
‘…an outstandingly able piece of writing.’ S. A. de Smith, The Modern Law Review, Vol 22, No. 1 (1959)
