Full Idea
The period which immediately precedes an election, and that during which the election is taking place, must always be considered as a national crisis.
Gist of Idea
An election, and its lead up time, are always a national crisis
Source
Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America (abr Renshaw) [1840], 1.07)
A Reaction
Rousseau said something similar. Election day in modern Britain is very peaceful and civilised, but it used to be chaotic. The weeks preceding it are invariably nasty.
Book Reference
Tocqueville,Alexis de: 'Democracy in America (abridged)', ed/tr. Renshaw,Patrick [Wordsworth 1998], p.60