In 2024, there have been over 70 national elections around the world, making it the biggest election year in human history. Countries like Mauritania, Mexico, India, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Iceland, and Ghana have had or will have their citizens go to the polls. Even in Canada, four provinces have held or will hold provincial elections this year. The United Nations Development Program estimates that half of the world’s population, around 3.7 billion people, will have the opportunity to vote in 72 countries in 2024.
Mathematician Rebecca Tyson explains that the alignment of elections in 2024 is similar to pendulums in a pendulum apparatus briefly falling into sync before returning to their own periods. Each country’s election cycle can be represented by a pendulum, with the length and period corresponding to the country’s specific cycle. The concept of periodic systems aligning for a moment is a fascinating example of how even messy human systems can briefly fall into step with each other.
Elections are periodic systems, just like pendulums, even though they may be imperfect in their regularity. Different countries have varying election cycles, with some countries holding elections every four years, five years, or seven years. In 2024, all these cycles briefly aligned, creating a unique moment in human history. This synchronization is akin to how the orbits of planets can occasionally align, creating a visually stunning but temporary phenomenon.
While the alignment of election cycles may seem surprising compared to planetary orbits, mathematicians like Tyson and Pouria Ramazi find the beauty in the mathematical principles behind these periodic systems. Ramazi explains that the lowest common multiple of the election cycles of different countries determines when they will align again in the future. For example, Azerbaijan and the United States, with election cycles of seven and four years respectively, will align again in 28 years, which is the lowest common multiple of 7 and 4.
Tyson uses the analogy of planets aligning near the moon in 2023 to illustrate how the irregularities in planetary orbits can occasionally create visually striking alignments. Similarly, the alignment of election cycles, despite their noise and imperfections, can create a moment of synchronicity. The mathematical beauty lies in how these systems briefly align before returning to their respective rhythms, showcasing the intricate patterns and connections in the world around us.
Overall, 2024 has been a remarkable year for global elections, with countries around the world participating in this essential democratic process. The synchronicity of election cycles in different countries highlights the underlying mathematical principles governing these periodic systems. Through the alignment of these political processes, we gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness and beauty of mathematical patterns in the world we live in.
