ELECTION MALPRACTICES AND HOW TO CURB THEM:
Dave Ikiedei Asei
14/02/2023
FORMS OF ELECTION MALPRACTICES
Election malpractices, such as voter fraud, bribery, and intimidation, can undermine the integrity of democratic elections and erode public trust in the electoral process. To curb these practices, several measures can be taken:
SOME MEASURES TO CURB ELECTION MALPRACTICES:
STRENGTHEN ELECTION LAWS AND REGULATIONS:
Governments can revise their existing laws and regulations to make it more difficult for election malpractices to occur, and also to impose stricter penalties on those who are caught engaging in such activities.
IMPROVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTING PROCESSES:
This can be done by implementing measures such as paper backups for electronic voting machines, and requiring voters to present photo identification before casting their ballots.
ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
Independent election observers and monitoring groups can help increase transparency and accountability in the election process. They can help ensure that the vote count is accurate, and that the results are not altered.
ENCOURAGE CITIZENS INVOLVEMENT IN THE ELECTION PROCESS:
Civic education and public awareness campaigns can help to educate the citizens about their rights and responsibilities in the electoral process. Also encourage them to actively participate in the election and report any instances of election malpractice.
COLLABORATE WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Governments can also work with international organizations, such as the United Nations, to share best practices and standards for free and fair elections.
ADDRESS SOCIAL AMD ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES:
Address the underlying social and economic inequalities, this can reduce the incentives for engaging in election malpractices, as people do so more because of poverty and illiteracy.
It's important to note that curbing election malpractices is a complex and ongoing process that requires the cooperation and commitment of various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and the general public.
WHAT IS VOTE BUYING:
Vote buying is a form of corruption that occurs when a candidate or political party provides financial or material incentives to voters in exchange for their support during an election. This practice undermines the democratic process by distorting the outcome of the election. This actually deprives the citizens of their right to make an informed choice based on the issues and the candidates' qualifications.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF VOTE BUYING:
VOTE VUTING ERODES DEMOCRATIC VALIES:
Vote buying undermines the integrity of the democratic process by making elections about who can provide the most incentives, rather than who has the best policies or qualifications to provide good leadership and deliver dividends of democracy.
CREATES INEQUALITY:
Vote buying disproportionately affects poor and marginalized communities who may feel pressured to accept bribes in exchange for their vote. This can reinforce existing social and economic inequalities.
DISTORTS ELECTION RESULTS:
Vote buying can skew election results in favor of the candidate or party that is able to offer the most incentives, rather than the candidate or party that has the support of the majority of voters.
DECREASES PUBLIC TRUST:
Vote buying erodes public trust in the electoral process and undermines the legitimacy of the elected officials who come to power as a result of this practice. Often times, the elected official does not respect the voters because they sold their votes. Such leaders are not accountable to the electorates. They become lords on to themselves and most times does not deliver the dividends of democracy to the subjects.
CORRUPTION:
Vote buying is often associated with other forms of corruption, such as embezzlement of public funds, bribery, and money laundering, which can have far-reaching negative effects on the economy and society as a whole.
ENHANCE CIVIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS:
Educate the citizens about their rights and responsibilities in the electoral process, and raise public awareness about the dangers of vote buying. Doing so can help reduce its prevalence.
IMPROVE ACCESS FO INFORMATION:
Provide citizens with accurate and impartial information about the candidates and their policies, this can help to counter the influence of vote buying by enabling voters to make informed decisions based on the issues.
PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION:
Encourage the citizens to participate in political parties, civil society organizations, and other forms of political activism. This can help to create a culture of civic engagement and reduce the incentive for individuals to engage in vote buying.
STRENGTHEN THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY:
A strong and independent judiciary is crucial for ensuring that election laws are enforced and that those who engage in vote buying are held accountable and brought to book in accordance with the electoral acts and in line with the constitution of the country.
It's important to note that combating vote buying requires a sustained and coordinated effort involving various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and the general public.
As Nigeria goes to the polls to elect its leaders on the 25th and the 11th of March, let all players apply the principles we have discussed above so that Nigeria will be among the countries that the international communities will respect.
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