Electoral Malpractices and Solution – JSS2 Civic Education Lesson Note (Third Term)

Electoral malpractice is any illegal interference with the electoral process. It is also called electoral fraud or voter fraud. It includes illegal registration, intimidation at polling stations and improper counting of votes. This note covers its forms, causes and consequences, and the steps that can prevent it.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain the meaning of electoral malpractice;
• mention forms of electoral malpractice;
• state causes of electoral malpractice;
• describe the consequences of electoral malpractice;
• suggest solutions to electoral malpractice.

What is electoral malpractice?

Electoral malpractice can be defined as an illegal interference with the electoral process. It is also called electoral fraud or voter fraud. It includes illegal registration, intimidation at polling stations, and improper counting of votes.

What are the forms of electoral malpractice?

1. Use of fake ballot papers: Fake ballot papers are used for multi-voting so that a particular candidate can win the election.
2. Underage voting: This is when youths below the constitutionally approved voting age are made to vote. It usually happens in an area where there are many underage persons.
3. The use of thugs: This is when political parties use thugs, with the aid of weapons, to scare the electorate into doing their bidding or to stop them from performing their civic duties.
4. Financial inducement: Voters may be given money or other rewards to vote for a particular candidate, even though the choice is supposed to be theirs. It can also happen through the church or mosque, where the pastor or imam tells followers to vote for a particular candidate.
5. Ballot stuffing: This occurs when more votes are cast than expected. It means stuffing multiple ballot papers into the ballot boxes in favour of a particular party or its candidate. It can also take the form of voting in many polling booths for the same party or candidate.
6. Artificial scarcity of electoral materials: This is the deliberate denial of voting materials, such as ballot boxes and papers, to voters in order to frustrate them. It usually happens in areas where a particular candidate has a strong presence and can hardly be defeated.

What are the causes of electoral malpractice?

1. Craving for power: Many politicians engage in what is called “do or die” politics because they want political power at all costs. Such politicians often loot the government treasury.
2. Poverty: Some voters are easily won over through the distribution of food items, clothes, money, shoes and so on. Their conscience can be bought, especially when their immediate needs are met.
3. Bribery and corruption: Some electoral officers connive with politicians to inflate their votes. When these officers have been bought with money, they tend to overlook what is happening to the ballot boxes and papers.
4. Influence of the party in power: The electoral body is often at the mercy of the government in power. There might be an “order from above” to favour the candidates of the party in power.
5. Lack of stiff punishment for offenders: When laws are broken and the offenders are not made to face the wrath of the law, others are encouraged to continue, since they know there will be little or no punishment.
6. Godfathers: A godfather is an influential person in society who dictates the results of elections in a state. One prominent example was the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu, who was very influential in Oyo State, Nigeria.

What are the consequences of electoral malpractice?

1. Bad leadership: This is the number one consequence of electoral malpractice. When the wrong people are in government, there is bound to be slow development, lack of vision and corruption.
2. Riots and chaos: Violence and destruction of houses and property are some of the aftermath of electoral malpractice. In most cases, precious lives are lost in the mayhem over election results.
3. Loss of interest in voting: When election results are manipulated, voters might not be interested in voting in later elections.
4. Bad image: When electoral malpractice is constant, the international community views the country as corrupt. This often keeps foreign investors away from a country that cannot handle elections.
5. Military intervention: Civil unrest and bad leadership resulting from electoral malpractice may lead the military to take power. This is a setback for the democracy of any country. All democratic institutions are suspended and the country is ruled through decrees.

How can electoral malpractice be solved?

Electoral malpractice can be prevented. The following steps should be considered:

1. Proper planning by the electoral body: The electoral commission in charge of elections should plan properly so that there are no loopholes that could enable desperate politicians to hijack the electoral process.
2. Non-interference in electoral matters: The government in power should not meddle in the operations of the electoral commission before, during or after elections.
3. Education of the electorate: The agency in charge of orientation should do its best to organise programmes that educate and enlighten voters on what is expected of them before, during and after the elections.
4. Adequate security: Security agents should be stationed at every polling booth to protect the electoral officers and materials. They must not be partisan in their operation.
5. Re-orientation of politicians: Politicians should be made accountable for their activities. They must be educated about the right attitude to the electoral process and taught to love their country.
6. Impartiality of the judiciary: The judiciary is often described as the hope of the masses, so it needs to be steadfast in its operation. There should be no sacred cow when judgment is given.

Evaluation

1. What are electoral malpractices?
2. Mention three electoral malpractices.
3. State three consequences of electoral malpractices.
4. State three causes of electoral malpractice.
5. Suggest three ways of preventing electoral malpractice.

Assignment

Choose any four causes of electoral malpractice. Explain each one in one or two sentences.