Fair Election Is Needed Essay Example
Fair Election Is Needed Essay Example

Fair Election Is Needed Essay Example

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  • Pages: 10 (2544 words)
  • Published: September 4, 2016
  • Type: Research Paper
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The electoral system plays a crucial role in accomplishing peace, security, and development objectives. It not only impacts the selection and education of elites but also shapes public decision-making. Following the end of dictatorship in 1986, the Philippines transitioned to democracy. The events of EDSA I and EDSA II showcased the unwavering commitment of the public to democracy when those in power disregarded the law. However, for the country to truly be recognized as a democratic nation, it must maintain a fair and lawful ongoing electoral process that serves as a fundamental pillar of democratic governance.

To ensure fair and just elections, it is crucial to have several key components in place, including respecting campaign rules, accurately counting ballots, and publishing the results. The Comelec has been established for this purpose and its role and power can b

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e found on the Internet. However, conducting a fair election is challenging due to various factors that affect the process. Hence, certain basic conditions must be met.

We must discuss two key factors for a fair election: ensuring the absence of violence and constraints, which guarantees physical freedom. The elimination of violence, intimidation, vote manipulation, and other illegal actions involving force or arms is crucial. However, previous elections have demonstrated that this initial step is not consistently achieved. In 2009, a hundred gunmen killed 58 individuals in a motorcade in Mindanao, resulting in frequent fatalities as a result of such extreme violence.

In a democracy, it is important to safeguard candidates' right to express themselves and voters' freedom to choose. However, there is often a strong inclination to intimidate or harm opposing candidates

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or even resort to violence during elections. To ensure a peaceful process, the Comelec has mandated nationwide prohibition of carrying weapons. Furthermore, it is crucial for all citizens to truly adopt law-abiding behavior. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these initiatives relies heavily on the mindset of all individuals involved, particularly the candidates.

In order to create a society that lacks violence and corruption, two conditions must be met. Firstly, individuals should prioritize the law over their personal interests and reject violence. Additionally, governments need to effectively enforce the law and punish those who violate it. This commitment to upholding the law should be visible at both national and local levels to ensure that no act of violence goes unnoticed or unpunished. The second condition involves regulating campaign finances and strategies for appealing to voters, which falls under the umbrella of "Campaign Finance laws".

The issue of campaign finances is a challenging and delicate topic that all democracies must address. In 2013, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman, Sixto S. Brillantes, declared that the Commission would investigate campaign finances for the first time. This matter is important because affluent and influential individuals or families can exert their dominance in public areas, organize extensive caravans throughout the nation, and advertise extensively on TV. As a result, voters who lack equal access to candidates face pressure and are unable to make an impartial evaluation.

To maintain control over campaign funds, oversight systems are crucial. Democratic nations have their own financial regulation systems as money holds significant influence. Strict regulations are implemented on private spending for transparency and monitoring by the Comelec of all transactions. Candidates should

be aware that their campaign finances will undergo extensive scrutiny. Additionally, this chapter will address illegal and unjust activities like vote-buying.

The problem is how to stop the electoral problem of a rich candidate winning by spending lots of money. Many things, like poverty and ignorance, can lead to vote buying. Local public officials are important in stopping this because they are close to the voters and can't ignore any instances of vote buying. The church and groups that watch elections also have power to make sure the process is fair and stop manipulation.

Namfrel and its 500,000 volunteers played a crucial role in stopping Marcos from winning the 1986 election prior to the EDSA revolution. The grassroots level awareness is vital, particularly in exerting pressure on Comelec, to reverse a long-standing culture of leniency and permissiveness that has undermined the respect for the law. The Romans used to say, "Dura lex, sed lex" – in the realm of elections, there should be no leniency beyond what the rule dictates. While forgiveness may have its place in personal life, a stringent and comprehensive enforcement of the law is necessary in public life, even to the extent of punishing violators.

The conclusion of this brief overview emphasizes that the democratic election process is not an easy task. It is evident that without implementing and enforcing these measures, Philippine democracy will remain merely ceremonial, and the significance of EDSA will be lost. Fr Pierre de Charentenay, SJ, PhD, formerly President of Jesuit Universities in Paris, France, presently serves as a Visiting Professor of Political Science at Ateneo de Manila University. He held the position

of editor in chief for Etudes from 2004 to 2012; a distinguished Jesuit review renowned for its social analysis in France and Europe.

The election process has always been a contentious matter, raising concerns about fairness and potential instances of cheating or manipulation. These issues greatly concern voters who hope for positive change in their country.

Many countries are currently holding elections, but only a few of them can successfully conduct these elections. Success means that the election is free from manipulation and ensures trustworthy results. It should not be treated as a mere formality to declare a winner without ensuring credibility and accuracy. Do you think manipulating the election process violates people's rights?

In various countries, elections are manipulated to achieve desired results, unjustly disregarding individuals' right to vote and the importance of respecting their voices. It is crucial to remember that power and money do not hold the highest value in the world; dignity does. When officials engage in electoral fraud, they not only harm their own reputation but also become the least powerful person in the nation. The Philippines has a democratic government with a president as head of the constitutional republic. However, a separate government operates in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The president holds significant roles as leader of government, commander-in-chief, and head of state. Throughout its history, the country's elections have been influenced by money and popularity.

In the Philippines, the electoral process is a platform for elite families to contend for political power and control. The richest families compete for national and provincial positions, while those with fewer resources aim for municipal or

local offices. The country's political system is intricate, with limited influence from political parties, but significant impact from media and finances. Although committed to democracy, there are instances of violence related to elections. Dissatisfied with the system, Filipino citizens have voiced their discontent through popular protests that resulted in the removal of two presidents – Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada.

The Republic of the Philippines, located in Southeast Asia, is a sovereign nation with approximately 94 million residents. Being one of the most populous Asian countries, political instability has been witnessed in the past. Electoral fraud and plunder charges were filed against two former presidents. The country operates under a system where Filipinos elect a president and legislature to govern them. These elected officials serve six-year terms, including the president, vice-president, and senators.

Voter turnout for national elections in the Philippines has consistently been high, ranging from 80 to 85 percent of registered voters. This is impressive considering the challenges faced during elections, such as transportation issues and violence. Prior to the 1972 Philippine elections, corrupt practices like vote buying, miscounts, ballot-box tampering, and election-related violence were prevalent. These dishonest acts undermined democracy's principles. In order to secure his position, Marcos implemented tactics like a show of hands to demonstrate support among his followers. Despite these efforts by Marcos' supporters, he ultimately lost in the snap elections of 1986 and his time in office ended. The courage exhibited by democratic forces during this period inspired many Filipinos. Consequently, the electoral system was revamped with the adoption of a new constitution in 1987 that included reducing representatives' term length from four years to three.

style="text-align: justify;">The president's term, which now matches the senator's term, was extended to six years. Along with this extension, the constitution also formed a Commission on Election. This commission is responsible for supervising campaigns and elections. It consists of a chairperson and six commissioners who are prohibited from engaging in current elections. To be part of the committee, most members must be lawyers and all members must have college degrees. The appointment process for individuals to join the commission lasts for seven years and follows procedures set by the Commission on Appointments.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines is responsible for enforcing electoral laws and regulations, including resolving disputes. It has the power to deploy law enforcement agencies like the Armed Forces of the Philippines to counter military or armed group interference. Moreover, it can assume control over entire municipalities or provinces and call for new elections if needed. As the main authority overseeing elections, Comelec allows citizens 18 years old or older on Election Day to exercise their right to vote.

In order for citizens to ensure their votes are counted, they must register before Election Day. The registration period is typically determined by the Comelec a few months ahead of the election. To enhance transparency and reliability in elections, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) works together with the Comelec. Additionally, the IFES encourages civil society to create influential campaigns and advocacies for electoral reforms.

To run for a position, individuals must meet certain criteria including citizenship, voter registration, literacy skills, and specific age and residency requirements. Disqualification can occur if candidates accept illegal funds or make

excessive campaign expenditures. Involvement in acts of terrorism or bribery of electoral officials or voters can also lead to disqualification. However, these restrictions are not enough due to the subjective nature of the registration process.

The Commission is currently experiencing problems with public trust as they are seen as incompetent and biased when it comes to overseeing electoral processes such as voter registration and ballot counting. Candidates recognize the importance of media in gaining public awareness for their platforms. Electronic media plays a crucial role in informing the population about candidates, with approximately 73 percent relying on these platforms to identify national candidates. This is particularly important given the challenges presented by the geographical complexity of the archipelago.

While the mass media in the Philippines is not subject to direct government regulations, their actions are still influenced by ratings and profit motives. In theory, all candidates should receive equal coverage in terms of duration, time, and quality. Advertisements must be approved by the Comelec before being aired. However, the rules regarding campaign spending limits are not effectively enforced, resulting in limited accountability and minimal impact on the campaigns.

Furthermore, the lifting of the restrictions on media campaigns and advertisements in 2004 resulted in candidates and parties with greater resources gaining an advantage, leading to the promotion of personality-driven and entertainment-focused politics. The Philippines has a widespread issue of election-related violence, particularly at the local level where individuals who challenge established political clans or parties face intimidation and abuse. Additionally, paramilitary groups exploit campaigning parties by demanding money in exchange for protection.

The enforcement of laws that oppose and control violence is

almost nonexistent, rendering them insignificant. Additionally, the pre-election and post-election violence, regardless of its relation to the elections, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Comelec. In countries with weak rule of law, the intrusion of the incumbent government often leads to internationally substandard elections that are deemed "free and fair." Dictators will use any means necessary to retain their power, including executive powers like police force, censorship, curfew, and martial law. Representatives from a particular group or party in a legislature can use their majority or supermajority to manipulate laws related to election eligibility, campaign restrictions, and more in order to prevent a shift in power to non-incumbent parties. Even non-governmental bodies can interfere in elections through physical force, intimidation, and fraud that leads to inaccurate vote counting. Prioritizing measures like monitoring is crucial for countries with strong traditions of free and fair elections in order to combat electoral fraud.

Problems in the electoral system that lead to bias and unfairness can occur at different stages. A lack of open political debate hinders a nation's political development. Additionally, an uninformed public plays a role in the failure of the electoral system. The public may be kept unaware and uninformed about electoral matters, such as a candidate's true background. This can be caused by limitations on press freedom, biased information influenced by state pressure or control, or limited access to news and political media for the public.

The state can limit freedom of speech through propaganda with a preferred political viewpoint. Unfair rules further complicate the issue of free and fair elections. Prohibiting opposing candidates and parties from running for office, gerrymandering, and manipulating

electoral success thresholds are some ways elections can be skewed towards a specific faction, party, or candidate. "Illicit means of conditioning the voting public also play a role in altering the election landscape."

Campaign interference is a form of propaganda that aims to manipulate election results. It can take various forms, such as harassing opposing candidates and campaign workers. Paramilitary forces may resort to violence to intimidate voters and discourage them from supporting a particular candidate or voting altogether. Other methods include arresting or assassinating candidates, shutting down campaign headquarters, and censoring campaign strategies like speeches, posters, and advertisements. Additionally, adjusting the election mechanism can also be employed as a means of altering the voting system.

During elections, voters experience different types of misconduct. These include misleading information, violation of ballot secrecy, ballot stuffing, manipulation of voting machines, destruction of valid ballots, voter suppression, falsification of election results, and intimidation at polling places. These issues are widespread in the political landscape of the Philippines where there is a visible presence of political debate. Moreover, opposing viewpoints are suppressed through enforced disappearances and electoral or political violence.

The Philippine press currently operates autonomously, guaranteeing prompt and uncensored delivery of information to the public. Nevertheless, there are apprehensions regarding the fairness of election regulations, which frequently exhibit bias. Manipulation of public opinion through popularity is often achieved by employing lengthy and repetitive advertisements. In addition, certain parties employ tactics like disseminating false information, vandalizing campaign materials, and intimidating campaign groups.

Misinformation is employed to discredit votes and violence frequently erupts during elections in the Philippines. The country has witnessed many highly contested elections,

leading to multiple reforms and constitutional amendments to address this problem. An alternative system has been recently introduced with the goal of improving the electoral process and should be further expanded in the future.

In order to meet the needs and requirements of the political and electoral system, the Comelec should undergo transformation and restructuring. It is important to properly renew and enforce finance laws and other regulations pertaining to political parties and election campaigns. Providing more education, particularly for the youth, is essential for better comprehension of the political and electoral system. The civil society's involvement is crucial in implementing these reforms for successful and unbiased electoral procedures.

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