The article examines how authoritarian and quasi-dictatorial regimes effectively manipulate elections to secure their grip on power, highlighting the historical context of Soviet-aligned Slovakia's electoral practices, where the Communist Party consistently secured overwhelming majorities. It reminisces about elections from 1964 to 1986, which featured voter turnout rates exceeding 95.5%, owing largely to controlled voting processes and oversight by the party's organizations. Anecdotes illustrate the absurdity of these practices, such as a doctor's observation in a hospital where election participation was falsely inflated to over 99% despite the reality of patients passing away before the final results were tabulated.

The article also draws contemporary parallels to authoritarian leaders such as Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Donald Trump in the United States, suggesting that they employ similar strategies to consolidate power and manipulate public perception around electoral legitimacy. The author argues that these leaders often undermine democratic institutions while crafting an appearance of democratic engagement, ultimately reinforcing their authoritarian rule.

In essence, the article serves as a cautionary reminder about the fragility of democratic processes when confronted with authoritarian tactics, emphasizing the need for vigilance in preserving electoral integrity in modern democracies. The discussions around these regimes resonate not only within Slovakia but also in wider discussions about democracy and the rule of law globally, suggesting that no democracy is immune to the threats posed by such leaders.