Systematic literature review of postponed elections during COVID-19: Campaigns, regulations, and budgets

The postponement of elections during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects a decline in global democracy. The policy of postponing elections due to health concerns, regulatory changes, and economic crises lacks empirical evidence. Several studies suggest that holding elections in countries that proceed with them does not significantly impact the spread of COVID-19. The acceleration of COVID-19 transmission is not limited to countries holding elections; it affects all countries, including those postponing them. Moreover, countries that continue to hold elections have turned this challenge into a COVID-19 mitigation strategy. This study aimed to analyze the findings of original research on election execution during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on campaign activities, regulatory changes, and election budgeting. It employed systematic literature review using 12 articles from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The results show that conducting elections during the COVID-19 pandemic does not contribute to the spread of the virus. This is evident through the adoption of blended campaign strategies by the candidates. Election committees have adjusted voting procedures, including increasing the number of polling stations, tightly scheduling voter arrivals, and visiting red zone lockdown areas to prevent mass mobilization. The increase in election budgets during an economic crisis is not solely for the elections themselves but also for reinforcing health protocols. This research recommends a reconsideration of election postponements and advocates for conducting elections during the COVID-19 pandemic to uphold democracy. Furthermore, future research should explore the social and political implications, as well as the long-term consequences for democracy, which result from the implementation of soft campaign strategies and voting system modifications on a global scale, all in the pursuit of preserving democracy.