ELECTIONS AND VOTERS RESPONSIBILITIES

CONTENT

   •    Concept of Elections.

  •    Concept of a Voter.

 •   Types of Elections.

CONCEPT OF ELECTION

An election can be defined as an act or process of voting for a candidate to represent the people of a country in the various arms of government. It also means that a process citizens of a country make political choices by voting for competing candidates or parties. In essence, the concept of election implies that the voters have alternatives and can choose among several proposals designed to settle an issue of public concern.

 THE CONCEPT OF A VOTER

A voter is a person who is eligible to participate in voting. Voters are referred to as the electorates. Voting, on the other hand, is a process of expressing one’s choice of a candidate in an election.

  The types of elections include:

1.   Direct Election: This is the process by which voters vote directly to elect their representatives for public office.

ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT ELECTION

1. It is highly democratic.

2. It is simple to practice.

3.  It promotes democracy.

4.  It engenders equality of voters.

1.   Indirect Elections: This is a system whereby eligible voters select representatives who would make the final selection of leaders on their behalf. This involves the use of the Electoral College.

ADVANTAGES OF INDIRECT ELECTION

1.          It is very cheap.

2.          It reduces electoral malpractice.

3.          It enhances the quality of the law made.

4.          It reduces political violence.

EVALUATION

Mention two advantages of direct election.

 1.     Electoral College: This is a body of elected representatives who assist in electing other political or public officers.

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE

1.          It is less expensive.

2.          It produces winners easily.

3.          It makes voting very short and easy.

1.    By-Election: This is an election that is conducted to fill a vacant elective post due to recall, resignation, or death of the individual holding a given political office.

2.    Run-Off Election: This is an election that is re-conducted due to disqualification malpractice or annulment of the initial polls or election. It is usually ordered by an election tribunal or court.

3.    Referendum: This is a “yes” or “no” vote of the people particularly on law in a given political system. It helps the government to know the opinion of people about an important issue of national interest or concern.

4.    Primary Election: This refers to an election conducted within the party to elect the flag-bearer of the party during the general elections.