Impact of Extreme Weather on Electoral Processes in 2024

In 2024, extreme weather events significantly disrupted elections in 14 countries, influenced by climate change. Notable examples include heat-related fatalities during India’s elections and severe storms affecting voting processes in the United States and Tuvalu. International IDEA’s Election Emergency and Crisis Monitor offers a comprehensive database to analyze these challenges and their implications on electoral integrity.

The 2024 election cycle witnessed significant disruptions caused by extreme weather events across 14 countries, including notable instances in locations such as Bosnia & Herzegovina, India, Mexico, Senegal, Tuvalu, and the United States. These calamities, often worsened by climate change, interfered with various electoral processes from voter registration to result announcements. For example, a storm in Tuvalu hampered voting for the new Prime Minister, while extreme heat in India led to dozens of fatalities during their largest election. Moreover, severe weather affected operations in Austria’s EU elections and caused widespread challenges in several municipalities during local elections in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

International IDEA’s Election Emergency and Crisis Monitor (EECM) provides crucial insight into these electoral challenges attributed to climate-related disasters. The dashboard offers extensive coverage, featuring 65 country briefs from 2001 to 2024. Users can filter this data by country, year, election type, and hazard type, including floods, hurricanes, and extreme heat.

Each country brief presents an overview of how disasters have impacted elections, examining societal effects, procedural adaptations, and measures taken to maintain electoral integrity. Additionally, stakeholders are provided with bibliographies containing references for further exploration into the challenges faced during elections impacted by disasters. The dashboard represents a vital resource for understanding the intersection of climate change and electoral processes.

The impact of climate change on global events, particularly elections, has become increasingly evident. Historical data shows that extreme weather events are amplifying in frequency and severity, posing a credible threat to the integrity of electoral processes worldwide. Disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves can disrupt critical stages of elections, from campaign activities to the voting process itself. The necessity for robust frameworks to monitor and respond to these challenges has prompted organizations like International IDEA to compile comprehensive resources to support electoral stakeholders in understanding and addressing these disruptions.

The 2024 election cycle highlighted the urgent need for resilience in electoral processes amid increasing climate-related disasters. International IDEA’s Election Emergency and Crisis Monitor serves as an invaluable tool for tracking the impact of these events on elections globally. As extreme weather continues to challenge electoral integrity, further research and adaptive measures will be essential to safeguard the democratic process.

Original Source: www.idea.int