Jaimie Bleck is Ford Family Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Nicolas van de Walle is Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Government at Cornell University, New York.

'Comprehensive, insightful, and persuasive: this book is essential reading for anyone interested in elections and democracy in Africa. We have been in need of a publication that brings the story of elections in Africa up to date for a number of years - this is the new gold standard.' NIc Cheeseman, University of Birmingham

• 1. The puzzle of electoral continuity; 2. The evolution of electoral competition, 1990–2015 ; 3. The impact of elections on democracy; 4. Political parties and electoral competition; 5. Candidates and electoral campaigns; 6. Analyzing issues in presidential campaigns; 7. The African voter ; 8. Do African elections matter?; Appendix; References; Index.

Jaimie Bleck is Ford Family Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Nicolas van de Walle is Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Government at Cornell University, New York.

'Comprehensive, insightful, and persuasive: this book is essential reading for anyone interested in elections and democracy in Africa. We have been in need of a publication that brings the story of elections in Africa up to date for a number of years - this is the new gold standard.' NIc Cheeseman, University of Birmingham

• 1. The puzzle of electoral continuity; 2. The evolution of electoral competition, 1990–2015 ; 3. The impact of elections on democracy; 4. Political parties and electoral competition; 5. Candidates and electoral campaigns; 6. Analyzing issues in presidential campaigns; 7. The African voter ; 8. Do African elections matter?; Appendix; References; Index.

Jaimie Bleck is Ford Family Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Nicolas van de Walle is Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Government at Cornell University, New York.

'Comprehensive, insightful, and persuasive: this book is essential reading for anyone interested in elections and democracy in Africa. We have been in need of a publication that brings the story of elections in Africa up to date for a number of years - this is the new gold standard.' NIc Cheeseman, University of Birmingham

• 1. The puzzle of electoral continuity; 2. The evolution of electoral competition, 1990–2015 ; 3. The impact of elections on democracy; 4. Political parties and electoral competition; 5. Candidates and electoral campaigns; 6. Analyzing issues in presidential campaigns; 7. The African voter ; 8. Do African elections matter?; Appendix; References; Index.