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Why are regular elections important in a democracy?

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Map of Canada displaying the results of the 2008 federal election by province and territory, with regions shaded to indicate the leading party's share of the popular vote: blue for Conservative, red for Liberal, light blue for Bloc Quebecois, and orange for New Democratic Party. Each area is labeled with the number of seats won by each party, and a legend at the bottom summarizes national seat totals for each party. — election Canada's 2008 federal election results.

Regular elections are a cornerstone of democratic governance, serving several vital functions that sustain a healthy polity. Because direct democracy is impractical in modern societies, elections allow citizens to select representatives and hold them accountable for their performance in office.1

Key reasons for the importance of regular elections include:

Accountability: Elections provide a formal mechanism for the electorate to judge an official's performance, offering the power to reelect or dismiss them at the end of their term.2
Leadership Succession: Periodic elections provide a structured, peaceful way to solve the problem of leadership succession, ensuring the continuity of democracy.1
Public Discourse: Competitive electoral processes force candidates to expose their records and intentions to public scrutiny, serving as a forum for discussing issues and expressing public opinion.1
Legitimacy and Stability: Elections reinforce the legitimacy of the government and help integrate citizens into the political community, confirming the viability of the state.1
Civic Participation: Beyond governance, voting and electoral participation serve a self-actualizing purpose, reinforcing the dignity of individual citizens and providing a sense of belonging.1