Paradox of vote buying in electioneering

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OPINION

By Dr Davis Malowa Ndanyi

What is vote buying?

Vote buying is a practice where political candidates or parties offer money, gifts, or favours in exchange for electoral support. Despite being illegal and widely condemned as unethical, it remains prevalent in many democracies, especially in developing countries like Uganda.

The question is, why do voters accept short-term personal gains at the expense of the long-term envisaged public services? It should be noted that the core paradox of vote buying lies in this contradiction. Voters, who suffer most from poor governance, still support corrupt systems by selling their votes, thereby perpetuating the very conditions they hope to escape.

It should be argued that vote buying undermines democracy, because the bottom line is that once the politician has paid, it becomes difficult for you to put pressure on him to deliver, after all, he/she bought you, and therefore, you have no moral authority to demand accountability.

Vote buying degenerates into poor governance and corruption, since accountability from the political leadership is minimal, having procured their elevation, the legislature

Besides, it erodes accountability and public trust. When the voters are compromised, they do not focus on who can deliver the best; instead, they are motivated by who can pay more. This kind of irony does not build democracy but instead builds individual political hegemony.

A number of reasons have been adduced to explain this persistent behaviour from the electorate.

First and foremost, poverty and lack of immediate family support. Many voters in the developing world look at small gifts and handouts as an immediate economic relief.  Many voters look at long-term political promises as abstract compared to tangible, short-term gains.

Secondly, a lack of Trust in Institutions is another factor causing vote bribery. Many citizens do not trust political institutions or believe all politicians are the same, and therefore, they argue that they would rather pick anything from whoever can provide.

Weak Civic Education is yet another factor that influences vote buying. Lack of understanding of democratic rights and processes allows manipulation of voters, which makes them fall prey.  Some voters may not perceive vote buying as wrong but as a normal part of politics.

Some cultural factors play a role in perpetuating vote corruption. In some regions, gift-giving is a cultural norm and not viewed as bribery. Accepting tokens during campaigns is seen as a gesture of goodwill, not corruption.

What then are the ramifications of vote buying?

First and foremost, there is likely to be entrenched corruption; Politicians who buy votes often recoup their costs through corrupt means once in office.  Poor service delivery, public funds are diverted from essential services to sustain patronage networks.

It further leads to a weakened democracy. Vote buying distorts free choice, undermines fair competition, and reduces public accountability. Since the elected leaders know how they were made to power.

A number of strategies can be undertaken to remedy this bad situation; there is a need to resolve the paradox of vote buying, and reforms must be made to address both the demand and supply sides.

Besides, citizens must be empowered to expand access to education, employment, and healthcare to reduce economic vulnerability. The government must promote civic education and voter awareness campaigns before and during electioneering.

Institutions need to be strengthened.  There is a need to enforce election laws and prosecute offenders without bias. The government should encourage political transparency and campaign finance reforms.

Besides, there is a need to Promote Ethical Leadership. Absolute need to support leaders and parties who reject corrupt practices. Foster citizen participation beyond elections, like in budgeting, policy debates, and oversight.

In sum, vote buying reflects a tragic cycle where economic desperation and political opportunism feed each other. Breaking this paradox requires more than law enforcement; that is when citizens can have elections which truly reflect the will of the people, not the price of their votes.

The writer is an academic and a human resource management practitioner