We, the undersigned current and past presidents of the International Studies Association (ISA), believe that all eligible citizens in democracies around the world should be able to freely, safely, and securely cast their votes in their governmental elections. We also call upon democratic governments everywhere to ensure a long-term commitment of technical, administrative, and financial resources in a non-partisan way to make elections as fair, accessible, and free to all citizens as possible, so that democracies are truly governments of the people and by the people as well as for the people. And we urge that incumbents, candidates, and parties competing in such elections abide by democratic norms that allow safe and peaceful alternations of power when they are voted for by the public.

We are writing in our personal capacities. Our university affiliations and the ISA are listed only for identification.

Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, University of Essex (president-elect)
Helen Milner, Princeton University (2020-21)
Cameron G. Theis, Arizona State University (2019-20)
Brett Ashley Leeds, Rice University (2017-18)
T. V. Paul, McGill University (2016-17)
Paul Diehl, University of Texas-Dallas (2015-16)
Amitav Acharya, American University (2014-15)
Harvey Starr, University of South Carolina (2013-14)
Etel Solingen, University of California Irvine (2012-13)
Beth Simmons, University of Pennsylvania (2011-12)
David A. Lake, University of California San Diego (2010-11)
Thomas G. Weiss, CUNY Graduate Center (2009-10)
Nils Petter Gleditsch, Peace Research Institute Oslo (2008-09)
Jack S. Levy, Rutgers University (2007-08)
J. Ann Tickner, American University (2006-07)
William Thompson, Indiana University (2005-06)
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, New York University (2001-02)
Craig N. Murphy, Wellesley College (2000-01)
Michael Brecher, McGill University (1999-2000)
Margaret G. Hermann, Syracuse University (1998-99)
James A. Caporaso, University of Washington (1997-98)
Davis Bobrow, University of Pittsburgh (1996-97)
Charles W. Kegley, University of South Carolina (1993-94)
Charles F. Hermann, Texas A&M University (1989-90)
Robert O. Keohane, Princeton University (1988-89)
Kal J. Holsti, University of British Columbia (1986-87)
Bruce Russett, Yale University (1983-84)
Herbert C. Kelman, Harvard University (1977-78)