The 2018 midterm elections in the U.S. have come and gone. As the think pieces roll in on the who, where, and why of voter turnout and civic participation, it’s worth reflecting on perceptions of free and fair elections. In America and countries around the world, faith—or lack of faith—in a clean election process is an important contributor to the rule of law.

Chart: Clean Election Process

WJP's 2017 General Population Poll (GPP) survey data reveals that, among high-income countries, New Zealanders are most likely to agree that local government officials are elected through a clean process, while Italian respondents are most likely to disagree.

Chart: Voting Freely

Looking at regional peers, in Uruguay, 98% agreed that people can vote freely without feeling harassed or pressured, while only 66% in Chile agreed. 

Want to take a closer look at the data? Download the complete data set for these select WJP General Population Poll 2017 questions and answers from high-income countries below.

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Global Press Release 2026

WASHINGTON (October 21, 2026) – The global rule of law recession persists, according to the new WJP Rule of Law Index® 2026, released today by the World Justice Project (WJP). While fewer countries declined this year compared to last, the global balance remains deeply uneven. Declines continue to outnumber improvements for the ninth consecutive year (62% vs. 38%).

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We create a press release for every country considered in the WJP Rule of Law Index, available in different languages. To find a specific press release, go to the relevant region and select the country of interest from the drop-down menu.

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