MEANING OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE

ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE

•    Meaning.

•    Forms of electoral malpractices.

•    Causes of electoral malpractices.

•    Consequences of electoral malpractices.

•   Solutions to electoral malpractices.

MEANING OF 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.

EVALUATION

What are electoral malpractices?

 FORMS OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES

1.   Use of fake ballot papers: When fake ballot papers are used for casting votes, such papers are used for multi-voting purposes so that a particular candidate can win the elections.

2.  Underage voting: This is a situation when youths below the constitutionally approved voting age are made to vote. This usually happens when the population of a particular area has more underage voters.

3.  The use of thugs: This is a situation where thugs are used by political parties to scare the electorates into doing their bidding or denying them of performing their civic duties through the aid of weapons.

4.    Financial inducement: Voters may be given money or other rewards to vote for a particular candidate though, this may be their choice. This can as well be through the church or mosque where the pastor or imam will tell their followers to vote for a particular candidate.

5  Ballot stuffing: This occurs when the electorates cast more than the votes expected. It simply means stuffing multiple ballot papers into the ballot boxes in favor of a particular party or its candidate.  It can be in the form of voting in many polling booths for the same party or its candidate.

6.  Artificial scarcity of electoral materials: This is a situation where there is a deliberate denial of the electorates of voting materials such as ballot boxes, and papers to frustrate them. This usually happens in areas where a particular candidate has a strong presence and can hardly be defeated.

EVALUATION

Mention three electoral malpractices.

CAUSES OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES

1.  Crave for power: Many politicians engage in what is called “do or die” politics. This is because they want political power at all costs. Such politicians are such that engage in looting the government treasury.

2.  Poverty: Some electorates are easily won over through the distribution of food items, clothes, money, shoes, and so on. In essence, their conscience can be bought especially when their immediate needs are met.

3.  Bribery and corruption: Some electoral officers often 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 often is 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 punishments for the offenders: When laws are broken and the perpetrators are not brought to face the wrath of the law, it encourages others to continue since they know that there will be little or no punishment.

6.  Godfathers: This is a situation where an influential personality in the society often dictates the results of elections in the state. One such prominent figure was the late Chief LamidiAdedibu, who was very influential in Oyo State, Nigeria.

CONSEQUENCES OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES

Some of the effects of electoral malpractices are as follows:

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 malpractices. In most cases, precious lives are lost in the mayhem over election results.

3. Loss of interest in voting: Whenever election results are manipulated, the voters might not be interested in voting in subsequent elections.

4.  Bad image: Whenever there is constant electoral malpractices, the international community will view such a country from the perspective of corruption. This often makes foreign investors not to come to such a country that could not handle elections.

5.          Military intervention: When civil unrest, bad leadership, and bad leadership happen as a result of electoral malpractices, it is inevitable for the military to take power. This often is a setback for the democracy of any country. As a result, all democratic institutions will be suspended and the country will be ruled through decrees.

EVALUATION

State three consequences of electoral malpractices

SOLUTIONS TO ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE

Electoral malpractice can be prevented. However, the following steps should be considered:

1.  Proper planning by the electoral body: The electoral commission in charge of elections should do proper planning of the elections so that there will be 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 electorates: The agency in charge of orientation should do its best to organize programs that will educate and enlighten the electorates concerning 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 any of their activities. In essence, they must be educated concerning their attitude to the electoral process. They should be orientated about their love for their country.

6.  Impartiality of the judiciary: The judiciary is often described as the hope of the masses. Therefore, this body needs to be steadfast in its operation. There should be no sacred cow when judgment is given.