Q- 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?
(a) During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the vote of one candidate and declared him elected. The courts later found out that more than 5 lakh vote cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
(b) Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minster, Mahendra Chaudhry will leads to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.
(c) In the US, each state has its own methods of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the states of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change whose decisions.
Answer- (a) The use of EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) which are tamper proof could have been used to control rigging votes in Nigeria. The counting of votes can be done in within the presence of multiple individuals which would assure transparency in counting.
(b) In Fiji the people have to raise their voice against that pamphlet which was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minster, Mahendra Chaudhry will leads to bloodshed. They should investigate and took stern actions against them.
(c) There should be an Election Commissioner which should have the freedom to formulate uniform rules and make the election free and fair.