2024 is not just an election year. It’s perhaps the election year. This may be the most consequential election year of our lives.
Globally, more voters than ever in history will head to the polls as at least 64 countries (plus the European Union)—representing a combined population of about 49% of the people in the world—are meant to hold national elections, the results of which, for many, will prove consequential for years to come.
In Taiwan, for example, who becomes the next president will fundamentally shape Beijing’s approach to the self-governed island it has repeatedly threatened with invasion.
Here at home, after more than 14 years of Tory rule, the prospect of change has many in the electorate salivating.
Here are some of the most important elections we can expect to see in 2024. This list is now exhaustive, however, it does represent elections that will have serious geopolitical ramifications
INDIA
Population: 1.44B
Election(s): Lok Sabha (House of the People)
Date(s): expected April – May
EUROPEAN UNION
Population: 448M (total of 27 E.U. member states)
Election(s): European Parliament
Date(s): June 6-9
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Population: 341M
Election(s): Presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives
Date(s): Nov. 5
INDONESIA
Population: 279M
Election(s): Presidency, Regional Representative Council, House of Representatives
Date(s): Feb. 14
PAKISTAN
Population: 243M
Election(s): National Assembly
Date(s): Feb. 8
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Population: 144M
Election(s): Presidency
Date(s): March 15-17
MEXICO
Population: 129M
Election(s): Presidency, Senate, Chamber of Deputies
Date(s): June 2
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
Population: 89.5M
Election(s): Islamic Consultative Assembly, Assembly of Experts
Date(s): March 1
UNITED KINGDOM
Population: 67.9M
Election(s): House of Commons
Date(s): expected in 2024, required by Jan. 28, 2025
SOUTH AFRICA
Population: 60.7M
Election(s): National Assembly
Date(s): expected May – August
REPUBLIC OF KOREA [SOUTH KOREA]
Population: 51.8M
Election(s): National Assembly
Date(s): April 10
UKRAINE
Population: 37.4M
Election(s): Presidency
Date(s): scheduled* March 31 (*may not occur due to martial law)
GHANA
Population: 34.4M
Election(s): Presidency, Parliament
Date(s): Dec. 7
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA [NORTH KOREA]
Population: 26.2M
Election(s): Supreme People’s Assembly
Date(s): April 10
We need strong media
Election cycles demonstrate the need for a robust news ecosystem and also an educated populous. Before we head to the polls, we have to be aware of the incentives at play and the temptation that exists for parties to spread misinformation and for news outlets to exacerbate and parrot talking points
At the best of times, the line between fact and fiction was always thin as competing parties attempted to gain the upper hand. In the age of social media, this line is all but a smudge. Rampant polarisation means warring sides are primed to believe the worst about each other. News outlets cannot be trusted to lower the political temperature and the public will have to do it by themselves.
