Public trust in elections: the case of Zanzibar

Trust in elections contributes significantly to legitimizing democracy, reducing inter-group political conflict, and promoting peace. Yet, election management bodies are critical in shaping public trust in elections, not least in deeply divided societies. Since the return of multiparty democracy in Zanzibar, election results, save for the 2010 elections and referendum, have been contested. This paper contributes to the study of this topic by analyzing how the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) impacts on public trust in elections. We investigate how ZEC’s institutional design and conduct shape public perceptions towards elections. Using models of election management bodies and election observation reports for previous elections, we argue that public trust in elections is declining owing to the ZEC factor, thus exacerbating the Isles’ political conflicts. The findings of this study resonate well with demands for electoral management reforms to enhance the trustworthiness of elections in deeply divided societies.