The Election Emergency and Crisis Timeline presents an interactive presentation of elections that are impacted by extreme weather. To navigate, the user scrolls along the chronological timeline to get an overview of the type of election, election date and type of extreme weather event for every story.;xNLx;Each story includes a short, curated text, extracted from the briefs available on the [Election Emergency and Crisis Monitor](https://www.idea.int/election-dashboard-election-emergency-and-crisis-monitor) (EECM). The extracts are shortened and simplified, as the "find out more" link in each story takes the user to the EECM which provides compressive information about the disaster and the impact on electoral processes. The stories also contain media either in the form of a video or an image. Each taken from various news agencies, providing further insight into extreme weather events.
From January 12 to 16, 2024, freezing temperatures and snowstorms swept across the United States, chilling Iowa to lows of –27°C. Republican candidates canceled events due to frostbite risks and severe travel conditions, yet supporters were encouraged to brave the cold for the in-person caucus. On caucus night, temperatures barely rose above –17°C.
In January 2024, after Tuvalu’s parliamentary elections, 16 newly elected members were to gather in the capital, Funafuti, to select the next Prime Minister. Severe weather, however, forced a two-week delay, as stormy seas prevented lawmakers from the outer islands from reaching the capital.
On February 14, 2024, Indonesia held the world’s largest single-day election, spanning 17,000 islands and three time zones. In Demak, ten villages delayed voting due to floodwaters reaching three meters, displacing election workers. In North Jakarta, a flooded warehouse damaged election materials, postponing voting by four days. As climate change intensifies, with El Niño events worsening, flood risks are expected to rise, potentially impacting 400,000 more Indonesians annually by 2030 according to Asian Development Bank.
On March 1, 2024, Iran held Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections under challenging conditions. Heavy rains, strong winds, and flash floods from February had left eastern provinces, especially Sistan and Baluchistan, struggling with severe flood damage. Despite these conditions, voting proceeded in affected areas, with vehicles, boats, and helicopters deployed to assist voter turnout. The decision to prioritize elections over flood relief sparked public outrage, as many questioned the focus on voting amidst ongoing rescue efforts.
From 26 February 2024 through 12 March 2024, a series of lethal wildfires broke out in Texas’s north-western counties in the Texas Panhandle. The 2024 presidential primary elections in Texas were scheduled for 05 March 2024, just a week after the Smokehouse Creek Fire ravaged counties in the Texas Panhandle. Due to the fires cutting off electricity, some polling places were out of power. Other polling locations had to temporarily close, likely due to the risk of nearby fires.
A deadly heatwave swept across India from March to June 2024, with temperatures soaring to 52.9°C in Delhi. Human-induced climate change made the events 30 times more likely according to World Weather Attribution. Despite record electricity usage, India’s grid maintained power, averting blackouts. The heat disrupted election campaigning, shifting activities to cooler hours, and contributed to voter turnout challenges. Tragically, dozens of poll workers and voters died from heatstroke, sparking dissatisfaction over safety measures. In response, the Electoral Commission introduced heat-specific regulations, including water, shade, medical kits, and mobile voting for vulnerable groups.
In March 2024, the Maldives began experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 33°C but feeling as high as 43°C. Despite the intense conditions, parliamentary elections proceeded on April 21, with voters lining up under umbrellas and hats to shield themselves from the sun. To accommodate the challenges posed by the heat, the Maldives Election Commission extended voting hours until 5:30 p.m. Still, turnout fell by 8% compared to previous elections, with 73.91% participation. The World Weather Attribution attributes the increased temperatures across South and South-East Asia to human induced climate change.
In the lead-up to Mexico’s 2 June elections, a record-breaking heatwave hit, with temperatures surpassing 50°C and intensifying drought across 85% of the country. Severe water shortages and blackouts affected 30 of 32 states, and long queues at polling stations led to heat-related illnesses like nausea, fainting, and headaches. One voter died after collapsing, prompting the Instituto Nacional Electoral to implement cooling measures to protect voters.
On 10 June 2024, several Austrian meteorological agencies issued severe weather warnings for southern districts, predicting heavy rains that flooded multiple areas and triggered mudslides, destroying several homes. The EU’s Copernicus program found that climate change has worsened impacts of altered rainfall patterns - increasing flash flood risks. Voters in Deutschfeistritz and the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld districts had difficulties reaching the polls as roads were flooded. Some polling stations were rendered inaccessible and had to be relocated by authorities.
The first major heatwave of the year in Romania took place on June 9, 2024, coinciding with the local and European Parliament elections with maximums between 35-37 degrees. Several people felt unwell at polling stations and needed medical assistance. Instances of fainting and dizziness were reported among mostly elders at five polling stations. Election officials were forced to work in extreme heat, sometimes without water, leading to fainting and rising frustrations.
