Election is the process by which citizens select representatives to govern their countries. In the United States, for example, the President and Vice President are elected through an electoral college system. Elections also take place for state and local offices, as well as statewide ballot measures.
Elections are important because they allow voters to make choices in a democratic system. The competitive nature of elections can force leaders to expose their records and future intentions to public scrutiny. They can also help to ensure that democracy does not become a form of dictatorship.
Moreover, elections are dramatic events that, with their rallies, banners, posters, buttons, headlines, and television coverage, arouse emotions and channel them toward symbolic goals such as nationalism or patriotism, reform or revolution, past glory or future promise. In this way they serve a vital social function by reminding people of the importance of their common destiny and by focusing attention on collective rather than individual concerns.
Finally, by allowing people to express their partisanship, elections can satisfy the human need for self-actualization. This is why despite the many problems associated with them, democratic elections are generally considered to be more legitimate than autocracies that do not hold them.
The rules governing elections vary by country. For instance, some governments only allow those over a certain age to vote. Others require a citizen to be a resident of the country for a time before they can vote. In some countries, voting is not available to prisoners or those who have been convicted of criminal offenses. In addition, some governments have banned parties and repressed opposition.