Global Democratic Backsliding and Election Access

Authoritarian and illiberal systems continue to preserve or manipulate electoral forms through opposition exclusion, disinformation, coercion, institutional capture, and restricted participation. Israel’s election, Nicaragua’s rejection of future elections, Russia’s managed 2026 contest, fragile Venezuela, and Canada’s unresolved transnational-repression case involving candidate Joe Tay show the breadth of the challenge; new guidance highlights legal, physical, financial, educational, and sociocultural barriers facing women.