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<p>Elections are the most visible expression of democracy, yet their functioning, particularly the staffing and organization of polling stations, remains understudied. Departing from this gap in the literature, this paper examines the use of lottery-based recruitment of poll workers as a mechanism to strengthen democratic legitimacy, impartiality, and civic equality. By comparing voluntary, party-based, and bureaucratic staffing models, it shows how sortition distributes responsibility across the citizenry, mitigates partisan influence, and fosters broader participation. Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, the paper highlights the normative and practical implications of integrating random selection into electoral administration. Sortition complements representative institutions by operationalizing principles of equality, neutrality, and shared civic responsibility. Potential challenges, such as perceptions of coercion or uneven engagement, can be addressed through the implementation of legal frameworks and targeted training. The study demonstrates that lottery-based recruitment offers a distinct and underexplored tool to enhance the integrity, fairness, and resilience of electoral processes in modern democracies.</p>

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From Ancient Athens to Modern Spain: Sortition, Poll Workers, and the Legitimation of Democracy

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月1日

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  • Queralt Tornafoch-Chirveches,
  • Ferran Wesselo i Comas

摘要

Elections are the most visible expression of democracy, yet their functioning, particularly the staffing and organization of polling stations, remains understudied. Departing from this gap in the literature, this paper examines the use of lottery-based recruitment of poll workers as a mechanism to strengthen democratic legitimacy, impartiality, and civic equality. By comparing voluntary, party-based, and bureaucratic staffing models, it shows how sortition distributes responsibility across the citizenry, mitigates partisan influence, and fosters broader participation. Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, the paper highlights the normative and practical implications of integrating random selection into electoral administration. Sortition complements representative institutions by operationalizing principles of equality, neutrality, and shared civic responsibility. Potential challenges, such as perceptions of coercion or uneven engagement, can be addressed through the implementation of legal frameworks and targeted training. The study demonstrates that lottery-based recruitment offers a distinct and underexplored tool to enhance the integrity, fairness, and resilience of electoral processes in modern democracies.