This article compares two prominent measures of electoral integrity—
- The Electoral Integrity Project's 2016 U.S. Perceptions Survey
- The Pew Research Center's 2014 Elections Performance Index
The analysis reveals several key findings:
### Low Correlation Between Measures
Despite assessing similar concepts, these two widely-used measures show remarkably low correlation across state elections.
### Multi-Dimensional Assessment
Both indices appear to capture multiple aspects of electoral integrity rather than measuring a single dimension. Their component parts reflect different conceptualizations.
### Citizen Perception Linkage
The study examines how the individual indicators comprising each measure relate to citizens' own perceptions about their state's electoral integrity.
### Recommendations for Researchers
Based on these findings, the authors provide guidance for future research:
- Measures should be clearly defined and validated
- Comparisons between different indices require careful consideration of conceptual differences
The article concludes by urging caution in using standardized measures to assess complex political systems.