It is the whole process or arrangement by which individuals are being elected into various government positions. A body which is responsible for this arrangement is called Independent National Electoral Commission.
Franchise (suffrage)
Franchise can be defined as the right to votes in a political election. In an election, not all citizens are allows to votes. Generally children are not allowed to vote, those that can vote are said to possess franchise while does who cannot votes are said to be disfranchised.
Types of franchise
1. Limited franchise or restricted
A limited or restricted franchise rights to vote are restricted on the satisfaction of the following ways:
1. Sex qualification: Under this qualification only male sex are enfranchised.
2. Race qualifications: - Under these qualifications only the white race are allowed to votes while black race are disfranchise.
3. Education qualification: - Under this qualification only those that are educated were given franchise while those that are not educated were disfranchised.
4. Property qualification: - Under this qualification only those that own properties such as land, housing or industries were allowed to vote.
5. Tax qualifications: - Under this qualification only those paying taxes were given the franchise.
2. Unlimited or adult universal suffrage
In modern times these five conditions no longer exist what now exists is the unlimited franchise.
1. Age qualifications or limits: - One must have meet the requirement which is 18 years and above in Nigeria.
2. Citizenship: - Only citizens of a state are allowed to vote.
3. Registration: The voters must possess a registration card issue by the electoral state Commission.
4. Sanity: - Under this qualification only adult with sane mind are allowed to vote. Insane people e.g. prisoners, lunatic are not allows to votes.
5. Residence: - One must have resided in the area he wants to votes at list 6 months.
ELECTION
It is the process by which citizens choose their leadership representatives to government through the ballot box.
Functions/ Purpose of election
1. To elect our national leaders.
2. To test the popularity of government legitimacy.
3. To bring about peaceful changes in government.
4. To check the excesses of government.
5. To bring about political education. Such education can be provided through campaign and issuing of party manifesto.
6. Through election citizens are indirectly participating in government.
Types of election
1. Direct
2. Indirect
3. Primary
4. General
5. Bye
6. Referendum
1. Direct election: This is when qualified citizens directly select their representatives to government e.g. Nigeria, Britain, USA, etc.
Advantages
1. It is democratic: Citizens are allowed to make their choice.
2. It does not lead easily to corruption as it is not possible to bribe the entire electorate with money.
Disadvantages
1. It is expensive to operate as it involves millions of Voters.
2. Those who do not know the value of election may sell their votes for monetary gain.
2. Indirect election: - In the indirect election, selected groups of individual vote on behalf of the entire electorate. The indirect election takes place in stages.
In the first stage qualify citizen's vote directly to elect counselor and chairman of local government. In the second stage elected councilors and chairman of the local government elect members of the State of Assembly.
In the third stage elected members of the state House of Assembly elect the governor of the state and member of the state representatives to the National Assembly.
In the final stage, elected members of the National Assembly elect the president. The indirect election is also called Electoral Collage for examples when members of the state house of assembly are electing the governor they constitute an Electoral College.
Advantages
1. It is not expensive to operate as only few voters are involved in the election.
2. Only those that know the value take part.
Disadvantages
1. It is not democratic: - these mean citizens are not allowed to make their choice.
2. It leads easily to corruption. It is easy to bribe an electoral collage to elect a particular candidate.
3. Bye elections: - A bye election is an election held to filled vacancy created by the death of a member of parliament. When a member of parliament resign or a court of law nullifies the election of a candidate in the constituency where the vacancy have been created.
4. Primary elections: - This is an election conducted within the party to elect candidate that would represent the party in a general election. Only party members are involved in primary election.
5. Referendum: - It is an election conducted to determine constitutional amendment to a country constitution. It is used to determine or takes major decision in a state. For example the Nigeria government could ask the people to vote to decide whether the Country should change from one party state to a multi party state. Citizens could only be told to vote Yes or No in other to take such decision. A referendum does not involve voting to elect a candidate.
6. General Elections:-This is when all qualify voters vote to elect their representatives to government. Unlike the primary election where only party members vote, in a general election all qualified voters vote.
VOTING SYSTEM
Simple majority/ simple plurality/ first past the post: - The simple majority is the voting system in which the candidate with the highest votes is elected. for examples
MR A 65,000 VOTES
MR B 60,000 VOTES
MR C 55,000 VOTES
MR D 50,000 VOTES
MR A has the highest number of votes and his elected.
Advantages
1. The systems lead to the emergency of a majority government.
2. The candidate that wins through the system enjoys the support of majority of the electorate.
3. The system is representatives. Each group within communities is represented in a government.
Disadvantages
1. It is expensive to operate because it involved two elections.
2. It leads to the emergency of the many political parties which in turn leads coalition's government.
Second Ballot System
The aim of the second ballot system is to elect a candidate with an absolute majority. If in the first ballot, none of the candidates is able to secure an absolute majority, then a second election called the second ballot is held. In the second ballot, only the twO leading candidate take part in the election. If none of the candidate is able to secure an absolute majority in the second ballot, the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected. The system is used in France, Germany and French speaking countries.
Advantages
1. The system leads to the emergence of a majority government. The candidate that wins through the system enjoys the support of majority of the electorate.
2. The system is representatives. Each group within communities is represented in government.
Disadvantages
1, It is expensive to operate because it involves two elections.
2. It leads to the emergence of many political parties which in turn leads to coalition government.
Alternatives vote systems
The purpose of the alternatives vote system is also to elects candidates with absolute majority. In the voting procedure the names of the candidates contesting for election are printed in ballot paper. The electorates are expected to vote for all the candidates according to their preference for each candidate. After the voting, the votes are collated. If none of the candidates secure an absolute majority. The votes of the least candidates would be distributed to order according to the preference shown on them. This process continues until one of the candidate's emerges with an absolute majority. This system is used in the Australia.
Advantages
1. The system leads to the emergency a majority government.
2. The system is representatives.
Disadvantages
1. The system is complicated and difficult to understand and operate. A society with many uneducated people to find it difficult to operate.
2. It leads to the emergency of many political parties which in turn leads to collation government.
Proportional representation
It is a system of allocating seats in the parliament in such a way that each political party or group is given a percentage of seats roughly equal to the percentages of popular votes cast in his favour. This system calls for large multi member constituency.
Advantages
1. It gives a more accurate reflection of popular votes.
2. Proportional representation leads to multi member constituency which usually reduces cost of running the election.
Disadvantages
1. Leads to the formation of many political parties which in turn lead to collation government.
2. The system is complex to operate.
Condition for a free fair election
1. The electoral commission must be independent and impartial.
2. The country must be divided into fairly equal Constituencies.
3. Voting must be done secretly.
4. Those that are not qualified to vote such as children, insane people and prisoners should not be allow to Vote.
5. There must be adequate security for voter's electoral materials.
6. The principle of one man one vote must be critically and strictly observed.
7. The vote must be cOunted openly and results announced immediately after the election.
8. An election tribunal should be set up to those not satisfied with the election to make their petitions.
9. The electoral commission must ensure that names of voters appear in the register of voters.
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