In this episode, Ethan Reuter speaks with Dr. Luke Blaxill about the extraordinary 1918 general election—the first after the Great War and the first under the Representation of the People Act, which tripled the electorate overnight. Held just six weeks after armistice amid demobilisation and the influenza pandemic, this was democracy's leap into the great unknown. The conversation explores the dramatic transformation of British politics through the controversial "coupon"—a simple piece of paper signed by Lloyd George and the Conservative leader that became a victory passport for coalition candidates. Dr. Blaxill explains how this khaki election, fought on punishing Germany and building the peace, split the Liberal Party in two, elevated Labour to official opposition status, and cemented Conservative dominance for decades to come. But the most revolutionary outcome came from Ireland, where Sinn Féin swept to power, winning 73 seats—47 of their MPs elected from prison. Their refusal to take their seats in Westminster and decision to form their own parliament in Dublin transformed an electoral mandate into a revolutionary moment that would reshape the union itself. From the mystery of who received the coupon to the first woman MP elected, this is the story of an election that ended Victorian politics and ushered in the democratic age—though nobody quite understood what that would mean until the pieces fell.
In this episode, Ethan Reuter speaks with Dr. Luke Blaxill, historian and Oxford college lecturer, about the 1832 general election that followed Britain's Great Reform Act. This wasn't just an election—it was a constitutional turning point that redrew the boundaries of British democracy itself. The conversation explores the turbulent lead-up to reform, from the July Revolution in France to widespread rioting in British streets, the burning of the Duke of Newcastle's castle, and 250 fatalities in Bristol alone. Dr. Blaxill explains how elite fears of revolutionary upheaval, combined with pressure from below, forced a reluctant aristocracy to open the franchise to middle-class men and grant representation to industrial cities like Manchester and Birmingham for the first time. But the Reform Act was never meant to be generous. As Robert Peel warned, once the door was opened even slightly, it couldn't be closed again. The episode examines how this careful compromise sparked the development of modern party politics, unleashed working-class movements like Chartism, energised moral campaigns from slavery abolition to Irish repeal, and set Britain on an irreversible path toward universal suffrage. This is the story of the election that changed everything—even if it was meant to change as little as possible.
We are stepping into the world of satire with the classic BBC comedy Blackadder. In one of its sharpest episodes, 'Dish and Dishonesty' we're taken to the so-called Dunny-on-the-Wold by-election — a contest for a "rotten borough" so small it has only one voter… and even he's dead. Our guest for this episode will be none other than William Pitt the Younger, himself. Played by Simon Osborne in the Blackadder episode he will give his insights into the election and what went wrong for his part and whether he should have had a cunning plan! In true Blackadder fashion, Edmund Blackadder seizes the opportunity to parachute his servant Baldrick into Parliament, manipulating the rules of the system with ruthless cunning. What follows is a hilarious but biting parody of the unreformed British electoral system, showing just how absurd, and how open to abuse, those pocket boroughs really were before the great parliamentary reforms of the 19th century.
In this episode, Matt Davis interviews Lord David Alton about his extraordinary victory in the 1979 Liverpool Edge Hill by-election. At just 27 years old, Alton achieved one of the most stunning upsets in British electoral history, overturning a massive Labour majority in one of their safest seats during the Winter of Discontent. The conversation explores how a young Liberal teacher and councillor built a grassroots campaign that capitalised on voter anger at industrial chaos, uncollected refuse, and unburied dead in Liverpool's streets. Alton reveals the innovative community politics approach that connected him to local people, the role of local media in amplifying his message, and the dramatic final days when his victory helped seal the fate of Jim Callaghan's government. From dirty tricks involving the National Front to betting against 30-1 odds, and becoming both the youngest MP and the shortest-serving member in parliamentary history, this is the inside story of a by-election that proved no seat is truly safe when voters decide it's time for change.
The UK's overseas postal voting system is failing — extended enfranchisement without operational capacity has created a perfect storm of lost ballots, tight timetables and systemic disenfranchisement. In this document we report alarmingly low return rates for overseas packs (average c.52% vs 81% domestically) and we explain how batching practices, snap-election application surges and short statutory deadlines conspire to make many overseas votes uncountable.
Win the votes, buy the votes, steal the votes, invalidate the votes! There is a lot that can go right - and so much that can go wrong - in a Ukrainian election. From the opening of the campaign through to the final decision on the results, it is a rollercoaster ride for the candidates, the election workers, and the international observers who have travelled from afar to see it all. In What Ukrainian Elections Taught Me about Democracy long-time election observer Jane Cooper recounts her experience monitoring a municipal election in the mid-sized city of Kirovohrad in 2015 Jane Cooper is a professional researcher and writer whose interests span from local history to international politics. For more than twenty-five years, she has been bringing to life stories from the past and present, drawing on extensive research and hands-on experience in Canada and abroad.
Lily Russell-Jones interviews Director of Democracy Volunteers, Dr. John Ault, on the deployment of observers at the Norwegian Parliamentary Election. The interview covers topics from changes in law affecting family voting through to potential foreign interference, listen in to learn the intricacies of polling day in Norway.
Over the coming weeks Democracy Volunteers and the Observations Podcast will be guiding you through some of the most historic general elections in the UK. From the 1832 election which brought in the first seeds of parliamentary reform, the 1906 Liberal landslide, the Coupon Election of 1918 up to the 1997 Labour win and the 2010 election which delivered the first coalition since the war, our team will introduce leading experts on the elections. We will be joined by: Dr. Luke Blaxill, Professor of Modern British History at Oxford University; Dr. Robert Saunders, Reader in Modern British History at Queen Mary University of London; Dr. David Redvaldsen, Associate Professor at the University of Agder; Dr. Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics at King's College London; Professor Sir John Curtice of the University of Strathclyde; Dr. Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London; and Andrew Sparrow, Political Correspondent for The Guardian.
This year, Democracy Volunteers celebrates a decade of independent election observation. Since our founding in 2015, we have grown to become Western Europe's leading election observation organisation, working at home and abroad to improve the quality of elections and to strengthen public confidence in the democratic process. Over the past ten years, our observers have been on the ground in polling stations, election counts, and campaigns — offering impartial assessments, raising awareness of risks to electoral integrity, and supporting reforms that protect the secrecy and freedom of the vote. A Decade in Numbers * 13,658 polling stations observed * 208,515 voters seen casting their ballot * The equivalent of 289 full days spent in polling stations * 'Family Voting' identified in 23% of UK polling stations * Key evidence provided to support the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023 * 15 countries and territories observed, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Isle of Man, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA Looking Ahead Our work is far from over. Democracy depends on vigilance, transparency, and trust — and we remain committed to strengthening those foundations. As we move into our second decade, we will continue to train and deploy observers, share impartial evidence, and advocate for the highest standards in democratic practice. Thank you to everyone — our observers, partners, supporters, and friends — who has been part of our journey so far. Together, we are helping democracy work better for everyone.
In this episode, Matt Davis sits down with Trudy Harrison, who won the Copeland by-election in 2017, overturning decades of Labour dominance in the constituency. Trudy reflects on the dramatic campaign that brought her into Parliament, the issues that defined the contest, and what it was like to step into national politics through such a high-profile victory. From the pressures of campaigning to the significance of the result for the Conservative Party, this conversation offers a unique insight into one of the most remarkable by-elections in recent political history.
On 1 September 2025, Guyana heads to the polls in one of the most closely watched elections in its history. With the country transformed by its oil boom and politics shaped by fragile coalitions, the stakes could not be higher. In this special episode, Matt Davis speaks with political analyst Dr. Duane Edwards of the University of Guyana about the key players, shifting alliances, and what's at risk for Guyana's democracy. From the contest between the incumbent PPP/C and a revitalised opposition, to the wider economic and social pressures driving voter sentiment, the conversation offers a clear-eyed look at a decisive moment for the nation.
Taras Kuzio is a British Professor of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Kyiv, Ukraine). His area of study is Russian and Ukrainian political, economic and security affairs. Matt Davis interviews Dr. Kuzio, an internationally respected expert in Ukrainian and Russian politics. In this episode Matt discusses the 2004 Ukrainian Election around the Orange Revolution that saw the contest between Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych. Dr. Kuzio explains which Viktor was the victor.
Our 'Elections that Shook the World' series leads Matt Davis to interview two leading academics who were part of the changes that brought democracy to South Africa in 1994. Professor Nancy Jacobs of Brown University in the United States. She is an historian of South Africa and of colonial Africa and her power in obscure corners including a mysterious and forgotten diplomatic initiative. She was a United Nations election monitor in 1994 for the first election. Matt also interviews Professor Wilmot James was an Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town and at the University of the Witwatersrand today. James is currently also a professor at Brown University. He was also a Member of the South African parliament for the Western Cape for the opposition Democratic Alliance. Dr. James advised the Office of President Nelson Mandela's Director-General Jakes Gerwel and on constitutional rights education for coloured (mixed descent) communities torn between accepting majority rule and worrying about minority interests.
Following the collapse of Communism in the Eastern Bloc, our podcast team looks at the changes in the former Yugoslavia, how it separated into its ethnic parts leading eventually to civil war in the 1990s. Matt Davis interviews Dr. Florian Bieber, the Professor of Southeast European History and Politics at the University of Graz, concerning the changes that were brought about and how they shook the world.
Over the coming weeks, our new presenter, James Heaton, will be hosting a series of "after dark" podcast episodes concerning fictional, TV and other examples of elections that have shaped opinions and given insight to viewers about the way elections are run and how they fit into our culture. From Richard Hannay's speech to a 1910s audience in The Thirty-Nine Steps, to Dunny-on-the-Wold, a pocket borough by-election in 19th century England and the epic battle for the new MP for Broughty Ferry, this series promises to be one of the most exciting ever produced by the Observations Podcast.
Matt Davis interviews Dr. Sebastián Hurtado Torres, from Universidad San Sebastián about the election in 1970 of Salvador Allende, to become the first Socialist leader of his country. His election saw international support and condemnation in equal measure with support for his election being divided along the lines of the Cold War. In this interview, Professor Torres explains the impacts in Chile, in Latin America, and globally and how the world reacted. By 1973, Allende was overthrown by a military coup following this election that shook the world.
On 29th August 2025, Samoa votes in its first general election since 2021. In this episode of The Observations Podcast Matt Davis our Special Internation Election Editor interviews Dr. Iati Iati of the University of Victoria in Wellington (New Zealand). The election will see contest between traditional parties and newer parties that have emerged over the past few years. This is the second in our series of elections overseas, drawing upon the expertise of global academics to make deep dives into elections that don't make the headlines around the world.
Matt Davis will be interviewing Dr. Iati Iati about the forthcoming Samoan General Election. Dr. Iati, an expert in Samoan elections, will be speaking from Wellington New Zealand.
Possibly one of the most controversial by-elections in British political history occurred in 1981 when Bobby Sands, an imprisoned IRA terrorist, was elected to the Westminster Parliament despite being imprisoned at the time. This interview with Dr. Peter McLoughlin of Queen's University Belfast, reader at "The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice", tells the podcast all about the context in which the by-election takes place, how the election worked, as Sands was in prison at the time, and how his election was received within the UK and around the world. Sands' election and term as an MP was short-lived. His death, whilst on hunger strike in the H-Block Maze Prison (Long Kesh Detention Centre), happened on May 5th 1981, meaning his term as MP was only 26 days.
In our new season of Elections that Shook the World, Matt Davis interviews international experts and participants in some of the elections that made history. From 1970s South America, 1980s Europe and referendums that threatened to change the course of nations, the Observations Podcast delves into famous elections around the world.