Featured Book
Why Elections Need Parties: Managing Free and Fair Elections in Latin America and Africa
(Cambridge University Press, 2026)
Develops a theory of how partisan inclusion within electoral management bodies (EMBs) contributes to electoral integrity in semi-competitive regimes. Through comparative evidence from Latin America and Africa, the book shows how structured party participation can enhance transparency, accountability, and the development of de facto institutional autonomy.
“Why Elections Need Parties forces us to rethink how elections are run in new and transitional democracies. Drawing on extensive cross-regional research in Africa and Latin America, Trelles challenges the conventional view that new democracies should place elections in the hands of nominally independent bureaucrats who are insulated from political parties. The book makes a compelling case that real and sustainable independence is more likely where election authorities include and informally consult multiple political parties.”Steven Levitsky, Harvard University
“This book makes a major contribution to the study of democratic resilience and electoral governance by explaining why some electoral management bodies achieve genuine autonomy while others falter, even under similar legal frameworks. Through an ambitious cross-regional comparison of Latin America and Africa and a wealth of original fieldwork, Trelles offers a powerful new theoretical framework to shed light on how to improve election integrity and safeguard democracy at the polls.”Rachel Beatty Riedl, Cornell University
“In an era when electoral outcomes are contested worldwide, this timely book offers a sharp analysis of what makes electoral management bodies truly autonomous. Comparing Latin American and African cases, Trelles shows that structured inter-party consultation is essential for safeguarding electoral integrity – and that political parties are part of the solution, not the problem.”Aníbal Pérez-Liñán, University of Notre Dame
Book Chapters
(with Micah Altman, In The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Integrity
(Oxford University Press, 2025)
Develops a framework for evaluating integrity in electoral boundary delimitation, emphasizing transparency, consistency, and public participation as core principles.
1990–2017"
In Strengths and Weaknesses of Mexico’s Electoral System (2017)
Analyzes how electoral boundary reforms in Mexico have shaped minority representation and territorial equity, highlighting the institutional determinants of inclusion.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
(with Micah Altman, Eric Magar, and Michael P. McDonald, 2023, Election Law Journal)
Examines Mexico’s rule-based redistricting model, demonstrating how transparency and consistency are essential for accountability in technically complex electoral processes.
(with Eric Magar, Micah Altman, and Michael P. McDonald, 2017, Political Geography)
Breaks down sources of partisan bias in multi-party systems, showing how district design interacts with party competition to shape representation.
(with Scott Morgenstern and Noah Smith, 2017, Electoral Studies)
Shows how variation in party system nationalization affects voters’ ability to assign responsibility for economic performance.
(with Micah Altman, Eric Magar, and Michael P. McDonald, 2016, Política y Gobierno)
Explores how open data initiatives improve transparency, public trust, and participation in redistricting processes
(with John Polga-Hecimovich, 2016, Latin American Politics and Society)
Proposes a framework for analyzing how political incentives shape bureaucratic organization and performance in Latin America.
(with Diego Martínez, 2012, Política y Gobierno)
Uses Mexico’s redistricting model to inform debates on institutional design and reform in the United States.
(with Miguel Carreras, 2012, Journal of Politics in Latin America)
Analyzes how violence affects voter turnout and political participation, providing evidence on the relationship between insecurity and democratic engagement.