LONDON -- How democratic are the world's so-called democratic countries? Can there be totally fair elections?

The U.S. presidential election raises some serious issues about democratic rights and the fairness of electoral processes.

U.S. presidential elections are complicated by the electoral-college system, which is part of the series of checks and balances enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, designed in part to protect states' rights. State legislatures choose their electors to vote for the candidate who gains the most votes in that state.