Popular evaluations of election quality in Africa: Evidence from Nigeria

• I examine the correlates of citizens' perceptions of election quality in Africa.
• I use post-election survey data on the 2007 Nigerian elections.
• EMB performance is an important source of mass election quality perceptions.
• Nigerians demand electoral management bodies with a high degree of institutional autonomy and capacity.

Despite the important consequences of citizens' election quality perceptions on political behavior and political attitudes, very little is known about how citizens formulate their perceptions of election quality. In this paper, I assess the correlates of citizens' perceptions of election quality. I suggest that the performance of election-related institutions is an important correlate of citizens' election quality perceptions. However, citizens' experience with electoral irregularities, and partisan affiliation also matter. I test these hypotheses in the context of the 2007 Nigerian general elections using survey data from Afrobarometer and International Foundation for Electoral Systems. The findings provide robust support for the hypotheses. Most importantly, the results indicate that the performance of electoral management bodies is associated with citizens' assessment of election quality in Africa and that citizens demand electoral management bodies with impartiality and professionalism.