More than 80 countries — home to about half the world’s population — are staging national elections this year.

       It’s a show of democracy in action. But this year has also revealed increasing democratic backsliding, with fears of countries barreling toward becoming one-party states or holding elections not seen as free or fair. Many elections saw accusations of rigging, by watchdogs or defeated parties, as well as rampant disinformation and the suppression of opposition.