The idea that heads of state be elected directly by the people progressed slowly throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
[15] Germany (the Weimar Republic) was the first European country to use direct election of a president without intervention by the legislature.
[20] Bolstered by opposition groups, institutional and constitutional change in the 1980s and 1990s led to direct elections of presidents in many South American countries.
[23][24] A common political debate, particularly as countries consider governmental reforms, is whether or not direct elections of heads of state strengthen democratic practices among citizens.
Selection mechanisms for heads of state can lead to varying outcomes in terms of voter interest, turnout, and overall engagement.
[25] For example, some scholars argue that direct elections will mobilize voters and increase their trust in the political process, particularly in emerging democracies.