Autocrats around the world are curtailing political freedoms and undermining the integrity of elections to expand their power. Candidates are increasingly willing to cast doubt on legitimate election results, and violence is steadily permeating electoral processes.

The 2024 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes, published by Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center, illuminate these concerning trends. Free and fair elections are a central element of strong democracies, and the world’s election score has reached a twenty-year low because of sharp declines since 2018. Democracy is on the ballot as billions of people head to the polls this year, because all national elections have the potential to either strengthen or erode global democracy.

Join us for a panel discussion on elections and democratic decline at the Atlantic Council headquarters on September 12 from 2:00 to 3:00pm. Our expert panelists will examine increasing threats to electoral integrity, the implications of global democratic decline for the United States and the world, and strategies for addressing this challenge. The event will also serve as the formal launch of a new report by the Freedom and Prosperity Center, entitled Supporting credible elections to advance democracy globally in 2024, 2025, and beyond.