This chapter introduces the research question and motivation for the book. It introduces and defines the concept of election-related violence, defining it as physical acts of violence carried out for the purpose of affecting the results of an election. It introduces existing explanations for election violence and previews the theory of elite misperception presented in the book, highlighting its basis in observations about voters opinions about violence and politicians difficultly in inferring what voters want. Finally, it summarizes the empirical strategy the book uses to evaluate the argument and competing explanations, and it provides a roadmap for the rest of the book.