About The Ballot Primer

The Ballot Primer explains how democracy works, in plain English and without taking sides. We write about the machinery that every democratic country has to get right: how votes are cast and counted, how parties win seats and form governments, how parliaments make laws, and how constitutions protect the rights of citizens.

Each explainer answers one question properly. We describe how a system works, where it is used, what its supporters and critics say about it, and where you can check the details for yourself.

What we cover

• Elections & Voting: voting systems, registration, counting, electoral commissions and observers.
• Parties & Coalitions: what parties do, how coalitions and alliances form, hung parliaments.
• Parliament & Government: law-making, the separation of powers, holding governments to account.
• Rights & the Constitution: constitutional rights and the institutions that protect them.
• Democracy in Africa: continental and regional institutions, charters and election standards.

Non-partisan by design

We do not support or oppose any party, candidate or government, and we do not publish campaign material, opinion polls or predictions. When we use a real election as an example, we report the official result and explain what it shows about the system, not about who should have won.

About this domain

This address was once the website of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC Alliance), a political party in Zimbabwe. The Ballot Primer is a new and independent project. It is not that party's website, does not speak for it or for any of its former members, and is not affiliated with it or with any other political party or movement.