African elections face contrasting COVID-19 challenges

Significance There is international precedent for this, after the United Kingdom postponed its local elections. However, although Chad and Ethiopia have delayed their polls, no other government has yet done so, raising fears that some elections could drive a spike in transmissions. Impacts Where elections do go ahead, minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission will be extremely challenging and often infeasible. The absence of international observers will undermine the international community's ability to intervene in flawed elections. Expensive elections, and overspending by ruling parties to court voters, will likely result in worsening deficits and rising debt burdens.