2024 is becoming pivotal for global politics, with several significant world leader elections scheduled. From the United States presidential election to key votes throughout Africa, Europe, and beyond, the political landscape is set to undergo significant shifts that will reverberate worldwide.
In 2024, more than 80 countries, including some of the wealthiest and most powerful nations, are scheduled to head to the polls. These elections will determine new leaders or confirm existing ones in various positions of power. While the number of world leaders elected can vary due to different election cycles and political contexts, many leadership changes will occur this year.
With that, we wanted to provide an overview of the majority of the upcoming world leader elections in 2024, examining their potential impact and the key issues and candidates involved. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of the global political climate and the forces shaping the future of international relations and policy.
Please note that as these elections take place, this article regarding the listed elections will be updated as soon as possible to provide you with the most up-to-date list of world leaders. By the end of this year and this informative entry, we hope that our community of global seekers will be better equipped to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving world of international politics and the leadership changes that will undoubtedly shape the years to come.
1. United States - Presidential Election - 11/5/2024
This pivotal year currently will have U.S. voters facing a choice between several presidential candidates:
Joe Biden (incumbent president and Democrat)
Marianne Williamson (Democrat)
Jason Palmer (Democrat)
Donald Trump (former president and Republican)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (independent)
Cornel West (independent)
Jill Stein (Green Party)
A variety of pressing issues are on the minds of the American public ahead of the U.S. presidential election, including:
climate change
crime & policing
education
the economy
foreign policy
health care
immigration
reproductive rights
While voters across each of the 50 states will head to the polls, the Electoral College process determines who will be the next president of the United States. After polls close, ballots go into a statewide tally with a majority of US states giving the winning candidate in its state all of its electoral votes. The number of electors each state receives depends on how many members the state has in Congress. To become the next U.S. president, a candidate will need the votes of more than half of all electors.
2. European Union - Parliamentary Elections - 6/6/2024 to 6/9/2024
The 2024 Parliamentary Elections in the European Union will be the first since Brexit. As a result of Brexit, the total number of Members of Parliament and the number of Members of Parliament each country in the European Union receives changed.
While EU citizens vote for European Parliament members, the leadership of each European institution is selected differently. The European Council elects its president and proposes a candidate for the President of the European Commission. European Parliament members are responsible for voting for their president and vice president and approving of the President of the European Commission.
3. Asian Countries General Election
Holding a seven-phase general election which begun on April 19, India will announce the results on June 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharitiya Janata Party (BJP) are running to be re-elected for a third term against Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the INDIA alliance.
In China, the second session of the 14th National People’s Conference (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened in March. These sessions provided an opportunity to understand China’s policy direction for the following year. This year is crucial for realizing the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).
China’s NPC elections begin with a direct vote of the people in local and village elections operated by local election committees. The local elections are broken down in cities by residential areas or work units. Citizens vote for their village and local people’s congresses, and those congresses, in turn, elect the representatives to provincial people’s congresses. The provincial congresses in China’s 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities directly ruled by the Central Government, particular administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and armed forces then elect the delegates to the National People’s Congress (NPC).
4. Russia - Presidential Election - 3/15/2024 to 3/17/2024
The Russian presidential election has extended Vladimir Putin’s rule over the country until 2030. Putin’s election run this year was possible due to a constitutional change in 2020 that reset his term limits.
Recent changes to voting procedures under Putin presented several monitoring barriers during the 2024 Russian presidential election. Such changes included the approval of electronic voting in 29 regions of the Russian Federation and voting in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, there has been a focus on limiting free speech and punishing dissidents in the country. In 2022, factual war reporting and anti-war protests became crimes under Putin.
From privately owned independent TV channels (which are banned from broadcasting) to news sites and radio stations, media in Russia is heavily regulated. Ahead of the 2024 election, Putin restricted journalists without specific qualifications from being present at election commission meetings, during vote counting and when the results of the voting are established.
5. Elections in South America and Africa
Venezuela - Presidential Election - 7/28/2024
Three candidates are running against each other in the presidential election in Venezuela:
Nicolas Maduro (incumbent president representing the United Socialist Party)
Manuel Rosales (A New Time party representative)
Edmundo Gonzalez (The Democratic Unity Group representative)
Uruguay - Presidential Election - 10/27/2024
Carolina Cossa and Yamandú Orsi of the Frente Amplio (FA) party
Álvaro Delgado and Laura Raffo of El Partido Nacional (PN)
Comoros - Presidential Election - 1/14/2024
The election resulted in President Azali Assoumani of the Convention for Renewal of the Comoros party winning his fourth term.
Mali - Presidential Election - DELAYED
While Mali’s presidential election was expected to take place in early February, it was delayed with no new date announced.
Senegal - Presidential Election - 3/24/2024
Bassirou Diomaye Faye of the banned PASTEF party was elected to be the country’s fifth president.
Chad - Presidential Election - 5/6/2024
Already taking on prominent positions in the country, Chad’s upcoming presidential election will consist of two individuals as candidates:
Mahamat Idriss Deby (transitional president and The Patriotic Salvation Movement representative)
Succès Masra (Chad prime minister and Les Transformateurs party representative)
Mauritania - Presidential Election - 6/22/2024
The election in Mauritania will reveal if voters are satisfied or want to see new leadership with a choice of the following candidates:
Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani (incumbent president and member of The El Insaf Party (the Equity Party)
Biram Dah Ould Abeid (MP for the Sawab Party)
El Id Ould Mohameden (member of the Rally of Democratic Forces party)
Rwanda - Presidential Election - 7/15/2024
Voters in Rwanda will head to the polls to select one of the two candidates listed below to serve a seven-year term in office:
Paul Kagame (incumbent president and leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front)
Frank Habineza (leader of the Green Party)
Burkina Faso - Presidential Election - July 2024
Due to concerns about security, Burkina Faso’s presidential election which is slated to take place in July may be postponed.
Algeria - Presidential Election - 9/7/2024
While the Algerian presidential election is being held earlier than usual, only Zoubida Assoul - president of the Union for Change and Progress (UCP) party - has announced her candidacy to date.
Mozambique - Presidential Election - 10/9/2024
While the Renamo party has nominated Ossufo Momade to run for office, the opposing Frelimo party is expected to choose a presidential candidate by early May.
Somaliland - Presidential Election - 11/13/2024
An election resulting in an outcome that will affect the country for the next five years, presidential candidates currently consist of:
President Muse Bihi Abdi (incumbent president representing the Kulmiye party)
Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro (representing the Waddani party)
Tunisia - Presidential Election - 11/24/2024
Tunisia’s 2024 election is currently lacking presidential hopefuls with only Olfa Hamdi (President of the Third Republic Party) announcing her run to date.
Namibia - Presidential Election - November 2024
This election’s voters in Namibia will have the choice of electing SWAPO’s first female presidential candidate or one of two other party leaders:
Nentumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (vice president and South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party deputy)
Panduleni Itula (leader of the Independent Patriots for Change)
McHenry Venaani (Popular Democratic Movement party leader)
Ghana - Presidential Election - 12/7/2024
Ghana will either see a past president return to office or a prominent figure take on a new title with the following names on the ballot:
John Mahama (president from 2013-2017 and member of the National Democratic Congress party)
Mahamudu Bawumia (current vice president of the New Patriotic Party)
South Sudan - Presidential Election - December 2024
There are currently four presidential candidates running for office in South Sudan’s presidential first ever national election:
Salva Kiir (The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement)
Bol Gai Deng (Kush Democratic Majority)
Peter Mayen Majongdit (People’s Liberty Party)
Deng Bol Aruei (Common People’s Alliance)
Guinea-Bissau - Presidential Election - December 2024
While no specific date has been announced and no candidates have announced their runs, Guinea-Bissau is expected to hold its presidential election in December.
6. Elections in Central America
Panama - Presidential Election - 5/5/2024
While ten presidential candidates in Panama initially qualified, voters will still have the quite a variety in choice with eight names being featured on the Panama presidential election ballot:
Martín Torrijos (former president and People’s Party representative)
Rómulo Roux (former Foreign Secretary and Democratic Change party representative)
Ricardo Lombana (Another Road Movement representative)
José Raúl Mulino (former foreign minister and security minister, Realizing Goals party representative)
Maribel Gordón (independent)
Melitón Arrocha (independent)
José Gabriel Carrizo (current vice president) and Zulay Rodríguez (national deputy) representing the Democratic Revolutionary Party
Mexico - Presidential Election - 6/2/2024
Voters in Mexico will head to the polls where they will cast their ballot for one of three candidates:
Claudia Sheinbaum (former Mexico City Mayor and Morena party representative)
Xóchitl Gálvez (National Action Party representative)
Jorge Álvarez Máynez (Citizen's Movement party representative)
In conclusion, the significance of the elections in 2024 lies in the unprecedented number of world leaders being elected, marking a pivotal moment in global leadership transitions. This comprehensive list focuses solely on global leadership elections, emphasizing the countries involved, candidates vying for positions, and the political parties they represent. By highlighting these essential details, our readers can gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of international governance and political shifts worldwide. As we navigate through this critical year of elections, staying informed about these global leadership changes is essential for understanding how they may shape our collective future. So, stay tuned to the International Press Club of Chicago blog for the latest updates.