Elections in 50 Countries

 This year sees over two billion voters going to the polls across the globe including America, the UK, India, Taiwan, and Russia. What are the implications for geopolitics, human rights, economies, and international relations of these elections?

What are the implications for the millions of voters taking part in presidential and legislative ballots that may not always be free or fair or void of disinformation and manipulation, and where does this leave healthy democracy?

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Chair: Jackson Carlaw MSP, Convener of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Panellists:

Professor Nicola McEwen is a professor of public policy in the College of Social Sciences and director of the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow. Nicola was previously at the University of Edinburgh as a senior lecturer and as professor of territorial politics. She was founding co-director of the Centre on Constitutional Change, where she remains a research fellow. Nicola completed a senior research fellowship with the ESRC UK in a Changing Europe, she explored intergovernmental relations in UK-EU negotiations.

Mark Diffley is a researcher and pollster with over 20 years’ experience. After 10 years as director of Ipsos MORI in Edinburgh, Mark set up a new business in 2017, delivering research and insight for clients across Scotland and further afield. Clients include the Scottish Government and other national public bodies, major companies and national and international charities. Mark has provided polling, analysis and commentary on many political events, from elections to the UK and Scottish parliaments to the referendums on Scottish independence and EU membership.

Jason Boxt is a partner at RXN Group in Washington DC. He has worked in public affairs and opinion research for more than 20 years, with expertise in communications and digital research, reputation and brand management, campaign and message development, political strategy. Jason began his career in polling and research at Roper Starch in 1999, before joining the Democratic political polling firm Global Strategy Group. Prior to coming to RXN, Jason was the founder and principal of 3W Insights, a research-driven strategic consultancy.

Interpreters: Jemina Napier and Andy Carmichael