For Authors
Submit ManuscriptIMPORTANT NOTICE FOR AUTHORS
Thank you for your interest in the Journal of African Elections! We appreciate your engagement.
Authors are asked to consult and closely follow these Writing Guidelines before submitting a paper. Please do not use past JAE issues as your style guide, as our house style changed in 2025 to APA 7.
Ensure that manuscripts are anonymised. Cover letters for revised papers must also be anonymous.
Ethical permission statements should not refer to specific universities or departments. Corresponding authors cannot be changed once the submission has been made. You can later reflect authors in a different order if the paper reaches publication.
The most common reason for rejection is that authors have not applied our journal’s technical requirements. This can lead to a desk rejection or a long delay before peer review. Authors should spend time studying our guidelines and applying them. We apologise for the length of this information, but we rely on authors to cooperate and support a high academic and technical standard. We do not consider papers that are not well structured and written.
You may hire a professional editor or use a language AI tool to assist with grammatical corrections before submitting your paper. However, we do not accept work that has been fully or partly generated by AI in the first place.
Copyright
Copyright for all articles published in the Journal of African Elections (JAE) remains with the authors. Authors whose work is accepted are understood to have granted the journal a perpetual, non‑exclusive licence to publish, archive, and distribute the submitted work. Unless otherwise noted, all content in the JAE is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This licence permits any user to share and adapt the material for any purpose, including commercial, as long as appropriate credit is given to the original author and publisher (JAE) and the terms of the licence are mentioned (CC BY 4.0).
Data collection and use
When you submit your paper, we ask for personal information. All requested data is directly relevant to your paper and our publishing activity. Your details are stored on our submission platform and not shared anywhere else. The only people who can view your details are active and senior members of our editorial team. Among the details we require are your affiliation (role), city and country of residence, ORCID number, and full name(s).
We require email addresses for all authors. If your paper is published, we will publish the email address of the primary author in the metadata section of the paper, which is publicly visible. Please provide an address that is valid and safe for sharing. The JAE is not responsible for potential misuse of email addresses once a paper is published.
Article types
The JAE publishes research papers, such as empirical studies, theoretical analyses, policy analyses, and comparative studies. The journal also publishes scholarly commentaries (Debates and Election Notes) and book reviews, which must be relevant to African elections. Election Notes and book reviews are generally commissioned. Research papers and Debate papers can be freely submitted by anyone. All articles must focus on topics related to African elections, such as democratic transitions, electoral systems, political institutions, governance structures, and the role of civil society. Articles must be original work that has not been published before and is not under consideration with another publishing outlet.
RESEARCH PAPERS
Length: 6,500 words to 10,000 words (including abstract and references)
Abstract: 180 to 200 words
Keywords: five
References: up to 60; most sources should be academic rather than media or websites
Research papers must bring novel insights to the field. We typically do not accept papers consisting only of literature review, unless authors critically highlight underlying assumptions or gaps. JAE accepts papers with a limited case focus, as long as in-depth insights are provided, such as a detailed analysis of the workings of a local election administration office, a voter education NGO, or a meeting bringing together local and international observers. Richness is preferred over shallow broadness. The journal accepts qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods papers.
We strongly encourage authors to adhere to the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability). To support reproducibility and long-term scholarly value, we recommend that authors make the data underlying their findings openly available whenever possible. Data should be deposited in a trusted, domain-appropriate open-access repository prior to or immediately following publication. Authors are asked to clearly describe where and how their data can be accessed in a dedicated data availability statement in the cover letter and published manuscript.
All third-party graphics must be clearly attributed. Name the precise document or webpage. The onus is on the author to find out whether permission is required to reproduce the graphic, and if so, provide it. If you omit this step, your paper will not go for peer review until you have corrected it.
There should be no discrepancies between your in-text citations and reference list. Your paper will not be peer-reviewed if it contains discrepancies or false references. Please use APA 7 style. You may ask ChatGPT (free version) to check your citations and write them in APA format.
Avoid adding citations in the conclusion section unless essential. Most citations should appear in the introduction and body of the paper.
Conference papers may be submitted like any other research paper and are subject to the JAE’s normal screening and peer review. Conference papers often need substantial revision to meet the stringent standards of an academic journal.
DEBATES
Length: 1,500 to 3,500 words
Opening summary / abstract: up to 100 words
Keywords: five
References: Try to limit these to around 25. You are welcome to cite media, news sources, and reputable websites. Include academic works too.
Debates focus on interesting and important developments in the field of African elections and democracy. Current events and trends can be examined or topics for research proposed. Papers in this category may also respond to papers previously published in the JAE. Short analyses that do not meet the requirements for a full research paper can be submitted under Debates. Debate papers may include original data as well as personal opinion, as long as opinions are based on referenced facts or newspaper / media articles.
Debate articles are read by at least two JAE editorial board members. The process is similar to peer review, with authors receiving feedback and potential requests for revision. The review process may not be fully anonymised, depending on which editorial board members are involved. Internal readings and reviews are focused entirely on the scholarly merits and contemporary-interest value of the work.
The aim of this category is to allow for the relatively speedy publication of certain items, given the changing landscape of political practices and studies in Africa. We still require a high academic standard for papers in this category.
ELECTION NOTES
As of 2026, the JAE also publishes Election Notes. Election notes are commissioned pieces covering a recent election on the African continent. Notes are short scholarly articles (not opinion pieces) with an approximate length of 2,000 to 4,000 words. Notes should cover the background, electoral rules, main issues, and contenders. The notes should also present election results and analyse election trends and outcomes. In the introduction and conclusion, authors are encouraged to reflect on how the election highlights broader trends in African elections or informs theorising on elections and representation. Notes are editor-reviewed.
BOOK REVIEWS
We consider reviews of books in relevant fields whose subject matter falls within the scope of the JAE. Books should be written in a language and style that is accessible and interesting for readers across related disciplines. We often commission book reviews, but we consider unsolicited submissions. Book reviews are usually no longer than 800 words. Include a title for your review and the following information: title of book, author(s) or editor(s), publisher, city of publication, year of publication, ISBN number, and number of pages.
Be sure the reader can tell when you are discussing the book’s content and when your own opinion. It helps to present these aspects in separate paragraphs, for clarity.
ERRATA
– We can publish one erratum per paper, preferably within 6 months of publication.
– No changes can be made to a published paper. Our technology and policies do not allow for this.
– We do not publish errata for minor details, particularly if these would not bring the journal or author into disrepute. Perspectives, events, and statistics are naturally subject to change.
– An erratum should present a small factual correction, not a new discussion or new information. Authors are welcome to submit another paper instead.
Referencing
Note: ChatGPT offers a free check of reference lists, and we encourage authors to make use of this facility. For a ChatGPT prompt, write something like ‘Check my reference list is consistent with citations and apply APA 7 style.’ ChatGPT works best when you upload a file. Check and apply the output manually. Alternatively, do the entire check yourself, without AI assistance. Either way, a careful check must be done. Despite our limited resources, we check all submissions. Papers with errors or discrepancies in the references are sent straight back to the author for correction. You can avoid this inconvenience.
Please use APA 7 referencing style. Do not insert indents (tabs) in the reference list.
Important: Fully cite the source of any third-party graphics you use. Make sure you find out the licence terms and obtain permission if necessary. Add these sources to the reference list; it’s not enough to just mention them under the graphic. Be specific in the reference (e.g. which webpage or document).
Ensure all hyperlinks in your reference list are valid, current, and clickable.
Please consult the APA website for the format of references. Do not leave out any details. See https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/webpage-website-references.
Referencing problems, including the lack of permission or inadequate attribution of third-party graphics, are a major reason for delay in our processing of papers. We urge all authors to take this aspect seriously.
Artificial intelligence - JAE policy
The JAE requires all papers to be written by humans. Minor help from AI tools does not have to be acknowledged and should not exceed the following “polishing” tasks:
– check spelling and grammar
– check citations and reference list
Any other use of software or AI tools, such as for data analysis or to create a graphic, must be acknowledged. If AI was used for data, give details in the methods section. If AI generated a graphic, attribute the tool and date of creation under the graphic in a source note.
– name(s) of tool or software, including a website if there is one
– how and where you used it
– how you evaluated the validity of such AI contributions (where necessary)
Authors must ensure that
– their own ideas are presented in all critical aspects, such as research questions, results, interpretations, and implications
– the content of the paper is valid and there is no AI fabrication.
You may modify the following example for an Acknowledgement at the end of the paper:
During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF AI TOOL AND VERSION] to [REASON FOR USE, e.g., plan the sections, summarise data, visualise data etc.] on [DATE].
Non-compliance with any aspect of our AI policy constitutes a misrepresentation of research. If the JAE discovers such concerns, we may notify the author’s institution and reject the paper or retract it if already published.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Manuscript format and writing style
Use APA (7th ed) in both your reference list and the text. Do not use footnotes for referencing.
We currently accept only English papers.
Do not submit papers that present bulleted lists or summaries. Write in full sentences and paragraphs.
We prefer Times New Roman font 12, with 1.5 or 2x line spacing.
Subheadings can be written manually or with automated styles in Word. Please do not number your (sub)headings.
The sections of your paper should generally follow the standard structure for academic work, namely introduction followed by methodology, then findings and discussion, and finally the conclusion.
Recommendations should be relevant primarily to academia. Limited policy recommendations may be included.
We encourage the use of descriptive (sub)headings, still following the basic underlying structure. We don’t want all our papers to present the same predictable headings. But also do not write overly long subheadings. Occasional complex subheadings are fine, but avoid their repeated use. An example here is “Coming of Age: The Early Years of Democracy”. Please do not use this double-barelled style for all your headings.
Check that your major and minor headings follow a logical hierarchy and sequence. These are crucial signposts for the reader and reflect your ability to structure your paper clearly.
Anonymisation
The JAE uses a double-anonymised peer review system. Please do not include the names of authors on the front page of the paper.
Also do not add your name to the letter for reviewers!
Make sure no references to prior works are given in a way that could identify you, such as ‘In a previous paper (Smith 2023), we reported that…’. Here you should replace Smith with ‘Omitted’. Your name will be added back later. References to identifying institutions should be handled the same way. If you merely want to cite an earlier work you wrote, without pointing out that it is your own work, do so. Write your name as if you were any other author, without drawing attention to it. An example of acceptable use, if you are called Monani, would be something like 'However, previous research has shown that this claim is questionable (Bertram, 2019; Friar, 2025; Monani, 2023).
ORCID
We need ORCID numbers for all authors. If you are not yet a member of ORCID, please sign up. Make sure the link you give us opens to your own page.
Abstract and keywords
Abstracts of should summarise all sections of the paper. This is not the place to provide an introduction or overview of the field. List about five keywords after the abstract. These can be a mix of single words and short phrases. Please do not ‘stuff’ (overload) your keywords or provide too many. It is generally not helpful to duplicate words that appear in the title or abstract. The purpose of keywords is to make your paper more searchable via databases if it is published. Think of other more refined terms that one might search for as a researcher in the field. The title and abstract will already be indexed, so duplicating them means you miss other listing opportunities.
Sustainable development goals (SDGs)
All academic journals are encouraged to link their work to the SDGs set forth by the United Nations. See: https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/sdgs-17-goals-transform-world. Authors may explore relevant SDGs in their papers. Mention any SDG topics in the abstract or keywords. However, please do not ‘SDG-wash’ just for the sake of it.
Funding and conflicts
Any funding or potential conflict of interests must be declared on the first or last page. This information must be provided at submission stage or during copy editing at the latest.
Graphics
We can reproduce colours in our online issue, but our printed issue is in black and white. This means that colours show up as shades of grey; a previously red tone may look identical to a previously green tone. For this reason, please supply an additional black-and-white version of all graphics. Line or dot patterns can also be used to distinguish between colours. Graphics can be added as a separate file if necessary. Please use an uncompressed .tif or .jpg format. All graphics must be of high resolution. The JAE must be allowed to alter graphics if necessary to create a clearer image. Please consider this point if you obtain permission to reproduce a third-party graphic.
Avoid adding screenshots or photographs to your paper. Not only may these have copyright issues, but we are not a media publication. Generally limit yourself to tables and graphs. We may publish an occasional clear photo if you can show there are no copyright issues and it has definite academic relevance.
Diagrams, maps, and graphs are figures. Tables have rows and columns.
Each figure and table must be numbered consecutively (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2; Table 1, Table 2). They should be introduced individually in the text (e.g., ‘Table 1 shows the results of…’). Each graphic must also have its own caption or title. Avoid filler words such as ‘Table of comparisons’ (just say ‘Comparisons’) and ‘Bar chart of…’. (just summarise the content).
Maps should be labelled in full as per the conventions: e.g., ‘Map of Provinces in South Africa’.
As per APA 7, use title case in your captions.
Permissions
Copyright and permissions are an essential aspect of submitting or reviewing a paper for an accredited journal. Authors must attend carefully to this aspect to minimise delays and rejections.
Attribute graphics or other elements that you borrow from another author or website. You need to cite more than just a surname and year or a generic website. An interested reader should be able to locate the source easily from your reference. An editor should be able to see immediately that you have been mindful and conscientious about copyright. Never simply copy and paste content without checking for information about the licensing terms. Often, authors are indeed allowed to use the graphic, but they do not write the correct attribution under the copied graphic. This is problematic for any reputable publisher. Your paper will not go for peer review until you do the necessary work. Rather do it before submitting your paper.
If you need to contact an author or website owner to check or gain permission to cite, you may be asked what licensing terms the JAE uses. We use a Creative Commons licence CC BY 4.0.
Substantial amendments to third-party graphics, including tables and charts, must be indicated. Examples are: ‘Based on…’, ‘Adapted from…’, and ‘Inspired by…’.
Failure to attribute other people’s work fully may mean your paper is delayed or rejected. Universities sometimes overlook such matters, but a publisher cannot do so. Ensure that all sources mentioned under graphics appear in the reference list.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS - TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Writing style
A good sentence length in academic writing is 25 to 30 words. Authors may use AI to polish their language and make it reader-friendly. Papers that are not easy to read may be returned for language revision. Our copy-editing does not include a rewrite, only basic grammar correction. The JAE emphasises readability and quality of content. Our readers are diverse, and many are second-language English speakers, so clear writing is crucial.
Spelling
The JAE uses British rather than American spelling. However, do not change the spelling in a quote or a name (proper noun). If your paper is accepted, we will implement UK style.
Numbers
General guidelines for writing numbers are as follows:
– Do not start a sentence with a numeral.
– Report statistics as numerals (e.g. 7 rather than ‘seven’).
– Use numerals for numbers that require hyphens (e.g. 23 rather than twenty-three).
– Use decimal points rather than commas: 2.5 rather than 2,5, and 3.1 million, not 3,1 million.
– In thousands, use a comma as per APA 7 (e.g., 5,134 - not 5134 or 5.134).
– Percentages: use the symbol (%) without a space (25%).
– Write currencies in same formats:
- GBP, EUR, and USD
- £, €, and $
APA links
https://apastyle.apa.org/?utm_source=apa.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=/&utm_term=header
https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/professional-annotated.pdf
https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/webpage-website-references#1
Helpful: To cite journal articles, look for ‘Cite this’ or ‘Citation’ on the paper’s first page. Click and copy the citation, then paste it into your reference list. Modify it to APA style. Do not insert hanging indents or tabs into your reference list.
Website links and DOIs
Ensure all hyperlinks and DOIs are clickable and valid. DOIs should be written in the following format: https://doi.org/number.
If a link is no longer valid, please find one that is, or delete it. If a reader cannot locate your source, the information is unverifiable. It is essential to draw from reputable and established sources. DOIs are more stable than website pages.
REQUIRED FILES AT SUBMISSION
When submitting an article to the JAE, include the following:
Anonymised manuscript file The primary author is responsible for ensuring the manuscript is anonymised and adheres to our style and referencing guidelines.
A cover letter This letter must provide the details of all author(s) names, institutional affiliations, ORCID codes, a physical and/or postal address, and phone number. The cover letter should also contain a conflict of interest statement and a funding statement if applicable, and/or a data availability statement if applicable.
Copyright permissions The primary author is responsible for ensuring that if any copyrighted material is used in the paper, written permission has been obtained. Please attach this permission as an extra file when you submit the paper. If you have default permission to copy the material (e.g., it is published open-access), you still need to state this but not to provide proof. Be sure of your facts. If your paper is accepted, we will check, and misleading information does not favour authors.
Acknowledgements Acknowledgements must appear on the last page. Anyone who helped create your paper should be acknowledged, even if they were not directly authors. The use of AI should be noted (as described in the relevant section of these guidelines above).
EDITORIAL AND PEER REVIEW PROCESSES
Editorial screening
– The managing editor checks whether the submitted paper adheres to the requirements listed above. If any aspects are problematic, the author is asked to make corrections before the paper is assigned to a content expert in our editorial team.
– Once the paper is technically suitable, it goes to an editor, who will decide whether to reject it or send it for peer review.
– The peer review and revision process is conducted until the paper is deemed publishable, or alternatively the editor(s) finally decide it is not publishable.
– Once a paper enters the revise and resubmit (R&R) process, it often has a fairly good chance of eventually being accepted, provided the author is able to stick with the process. Revision may be required over more than one round. This can be quite a stringent process.
– We try to return a revised paper to the original reviewers. However, sometimes they become unavailable for a second round, in which case the JAE editor(s) and/or other reviewers may become involved in helping to move the paper forward.
Assessment by the associate editor
• The associate editor assesses the paper, considering its scope, originality, and merits.
• The paper is accepted for review or rejected out of hand.
• If the paper is reviewed, the associate editor will coordinate the reviews and correspond with the author regarding any recommendations for revision. The associate editor can see who the author is and vice versa.
• The associate editor may decide to invite a third reviewer, refer the paper to the chief editor, seek assistance from another editor, or provide their own expertise to steer the process.
• Once the associate editor is satisfied that the paper may be suitable for publishing, the chief editor confirms or refutes this decision. The chief editor may also have been consulted earlier.
• Our approach is to widen the circle if there are vastly different assessments. If two reviewers disagree about the publishability of a paper, we may get a third expert involved. This method counters possible bias.
Review process
– Reviewers complete the online review form in Scholastica. There are about 16 rating-scale questions, followed by two or three open-ended questions where they can write more detailed responses. There is a section intended for the author to read directly.
– The associate editor, before sending the reviews to the author, will check that the reviewers’ comments are congruent with our journal’s policies and requirements. They also check for matters of tone and anonymity. Then the associate editor sends all feedback to the author, usually along with a few of their own comments.
– Reviewers give detailed feedback as well as an overall recommendation (e.g., accept with minor revision, accept with major revision, or reject / redirect).
– The associate and chief editors consider the reviews before making their final decisions.
– The editor is required to provide impartial input, without infringing on authors’ independent thinking. An editor may suggest references or theory to include but they may not make such additions a mandatory precondition for publication.
– When it comes to empirical data, the editor can ask the author to substantiate a claim using authoritative sources or to provide the original data.
– In other words, you do not have to implement everything the reviewers suggest. However, you must be willing to explain how you have considered the points they raised. As the author, you cannot be forced to take a specific position or cite a specific source. The editorial suggestions are merely aimed at improving the standard of papers.
– Authors often have one or two rounds of revisions, guided by the reviews and editors. A third round of reviews may occur but is not guaranteed.
– You may choose to colour-highlight revisions within your paper. This can help reviewers and editors to find the parts that have been changed or added. Highlighting is not mandatory.
Publishing decisions and communication
• Authors may object to or query editorial decisions at any stage, provided they reduce their complaints to writing so they can be circulated to relevant editorial members to consider. Write to the managing editor with complaints and queries at