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)
Book Reference
Tocqueville,Alexis de: 'Democracy in America (abridged)', ed/tr. Renshaw,Patrick [Wordsworth 1998], p.60
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.