ABSTRACT
Elections highlight some of the most exciting and memorable features of democratic politics. Consider the images that come to mind when we think of an election: motivational speeches, colorful campaign events, cheering crowds, vigorous debates, the rise of underdog candidates, the surge in nationalism, and perhaps most of all, the anxiety of election day itself. It is this element of surprise-the sense that every candidate has a chance and anything is possible-that makes an election so exciting. And so it is hard to believe that at their core, elections are rote, technical affairs. In fact, the drama of democratic elections requires explicit, exhaustive rules to cover everything from the registration of voters and candidates to the counting of votes and certification of results. Democratic elections are captivating precisely because they are embedded in a predictable setting of rules and procedures.
