.svg)
Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?
(i) During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
(ii) Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.
(iii) In the US, each state has its method of voting, its procedure of counting and its authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.
(i) In such case of misuse of power, the election should be declared null and void and the authority should give an order for re-election in the constituency. The officer in charge during the counting of votes should be punished for committing such a crime. In India, this situation is not possible as agents of all the candidates are present during the time of vote counting.
(ii) Issuing such pamphlets to threaten voters is election malpractice. This activity should be checked immediately. The source of the pamphlet should be punished as it violates the principle of a democratic election.
(iii) Since, each state of the US has its method of election, the decision taken by the state of Florida must be according to the election laws passed by the state. No one can challenge those laws because those laws were made in accordance with the state. In India, since states do not have the authority to make their laws for election, such a situation cannot happen.
.avif){kind=small}
.svg){kind=logo}
