8.4 Electoral Integrity and Manipulation

Electoral integrity is crucial for fair and transparent elections. It involves adhering to international standards and best practices, ensuring independent electoral bodies, and respecting fundamental freedoms. Threats like voter suppression, vote-buying, and disinformation can undermine the process.

Monitoring efforts, both international and domestic, play a key role in safeguarding elections. Electoral management bodies, the judiciary, and civil society organizations work together to ensure credibility. Their independence and effectiveness are vital for maintaining public trust in the democratic process.

Electoral Integrity and its Threats

Defining Electoral Integrity

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• Electoral integrity refers to the adherence to international standards and best practices in the conduct of elections, ensuring that the process is free, fair, and transparent
• Factors such as the independence and impartiality of electoral management bodies, the presence of a level playing field for all candidates and parties, and the respect for fundamental freedoms (freedom of expression, association, and assembly) are crucial for maintaining electoral integrity
• Examples of international standards and best practices include:
  • Universal and equal suffrage
  • Secret ballot
  • Transparency in the electoral process
  • Impartial and efficient administration of elections
  • Respect for the rule of law and human rights

Threats to Electoral Integrity

• The main threats to electoral integrity include voter suppression, vote-buying, intimidation, disinformation campaigns, and electoral fraud
  • Voter suppression tactics aim to discourage or prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots (restrictive voter ID laws, limited polling locations)
  • Vote-buying involves offering money, goods, or services to voters in exchange for their support, undermining the principle of free choice
  • Intimidation encompasses threats, violence, or coercion aimed at influencing voters' decisions or deterring them from participating (threats of physical harm, loss of employment)
  • Disinformation campaigns spread false or misleading information to manipulate public opinion and influence voter behavior (social media, fake news)
  • Electoral fraud includes illegal practices that directly manipulate election results (ballot-box stuffing, tampering with voter registers)
• Lack of trust in the electoral process among citizens can lead to decreased voter turnout, political instability, and the erosion of democratic legitimacy
• Examples of countries that have faced threats to electoral integrity include:
  • United States (allegations of voter suppression and foreign interference in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections)
  • Belarus (widespread protests and accusations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election)

Forms of Electoral Manipulation

Manipulating Voter Behavior

• Vote-buying involves offering money, goods, or services to voters in exchange for their support, which undermines the principle of free choice and distorts election results
  • Vote-buying can take various forms, such as direct cash payments, distribution of food or other goods, or promises of future benefits (employment, access to services)
  • This practice is particularly prevalent in low-income areas or among vulnerable populations (rural communities, marginalized groups)
• Voter intimidation encompasses threats, violence, or coercion aimed at influencing voters' decisions or deterring them from participating in the electoral process
  • Intimidation tactics can include physical threats, harassment, or the creation of a hostile environment around polling stations (presence of armed groups, aggressive campaigning)
  • Voters may also face threats of economic retaliation, such as loss of employment or access to resources, if they do not support a particular candidate or party

Manipulating Election Results

• Electoral fraud includes a wide range of illegal practices, such as ballot-box stuffing, tampering with voter registers, and misreporting of results, which directly manipulate the outcome of an election
  • Ballot-box stuffing involves the illegal addition of ballots to favor a particular candidate or party (pre-filled ballots, multiple voting)
  • Tampering with voter registers can include the wrongful inclusion or exclusion of eligible voters, or the creation of fake voter entries (deceased individuals, fictitious names)
  • Misreporting of results involves the intentional alteration of vote tallies or the announcement of false results (discrepancies between polling station records and official results)
• The use of state resources by incumbent parties or candidates to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents is another form of electoral manipulation that tilts the playing field
  • Incumbent parties may use government funds, infrastructure, or personnel to support their campaigns (use of government vehicles for campaigning, diversion of public funds to party activities)
  • State-owned media outlets may provide biased coverage or grant disproportionate airtime to the ruling party or candidate, limiting the visibility of opposition voices
• The impact of electoral manipulation on election outcomes can be significant, leading to the victory of candidates or parties that do not represent the genuine will of the people and eroding public confidence in the democratic process
• Examples of countries that have experienced electoral manipulation include:
  • Russia (allegations of ballot-box stuffing and misreporting of results in the 2011 and 2018 presidential elections)
  • Zimbabwe (intimidation and violence against opposition supporters during the 2008 and 2018 elections)

Monitoring Efforts for Electoral Integrity

International Election Observation

• International election observation missions, such as those conducted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) or the European Union (EU), aim to assess the quality of elections and identify areas for improvement
  • Observation missions deploy teams of experts to monitor all stages of the electoral process, from the campaign period to the counting and tabulation of results
  • Observers assess the legal framework, the performance of electoral authorities, the conduct of the campaign, and the overall atmosphere in which the elections take place
  • Missions issue reports and recommendations based on their findings, which can help identify strengths and weaknesses in the electoral process and guide reforms
• The effectiveness of international observation depends on factors such as the independence and professionalism of the observers, the scope and methodology of the observation, and the ability to access all stages of the electoral process
  • Observers must maintain strict impartiality and not interfere in the electoral process, while also having the necessary expertise to assess complex electoral environments
  • Comprehensive observation requires a sufficient number of observers to cover a representative sample of polling stations and a methodology that allows for the systematic collection and analysis of data
  • Restrictions imposed by host governments, such as limitations on the number of observers or the areas they can access, can hinder the effectiveness of observation missions

Domestic Election Monitoring

• Domestic election monitoring by civil society organizations and citizen observers can help detect and deter electoral manipulation, as well as provide valuable information on the conduct of the process
  • Civil society organizations can deploy trained observers to monitor polling stations, count centers, and other key locations, and report on any irregularities or violations
  • Citizen observers, often volunteers, can provide a grassroots perspective on the electoral process and help build public trust in the integrity of the elections
  • Domestic monitors can also play a role in voter education, encouraging participation and promoting a peaceful electoral environment
• The presence of observers can have a deterrent effect on electoral manipulation, as perpetrators may be less likely to engage in fraudulent activities if they know they are being watched
• However, the impact of domestic monitoring can be limited by factors such as the capacity and resources of civil society organizations, the level of access granted by electoral authorities, and the security risks faced by observers in some contexts
• Examples of domestic monitoring efforts include:
  • The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) in the Philippines, which has been monitoring elections since 1983
  • The Election Observation Group (ELOG) in Kenya, a coalition of civil society organizations that deployed over 8,000 observers for the 2017 general elections

Actors in Ensuring Election Credibility

Electoral Management Bodies

• Electoral management bodies (EMBs) are responsible for the organization and conduct of elections, including voter registration, ballot design, and the counting and tabulation of results
• The independence, impartiality, and professionalism of EMBs are essential for ensuring the credibility of elections
  • EMBs should be free from political interference and have sufficient resources and capacity to carry out their mandate effectively
  • The appointment process for EMB members should be transparent and based on merit, rather than political affiliation
  • EMBs should communicate regularly with stakeholders and the public to build trust and provide information on the electoral process
• Examples of independent and professional EMBs include:
  • The Federal Election Commission (FEC) in the United States
  • The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria

Judiciary

• The judiciary plays a crucial role in resolving electoral disputes, interpreting electoral laws, and adjudicating cases of electoral manipulation or fraud
• An independent and effective judiciary is necessary to provide legal redress and maintain the integrity of the process
  • Courts should have the authority to hear and decide on electoral complaints in a timely and impartial manner
  • Judges should be insulated from political pressure and have the necessary expertise to handle electoral cases
  • The judiciary should also ensure that electoral laws are applied consistently and in line with international standards
• Examples of judicial involvement in electoral processes include:
  • The Supreme Court of Kenya's decision to annul the 2017 presidential election due to irregularities and order a new vote
  • The role of the Constitutional Court in resolving disputes over the 2000 presidential election in the United States

Civil Society

• Civil society organizations (CSOs) contribute to electoral integrity by monitoring the process, educating voters, advocating for reforms, and holding authorities accountable
  • CSOs can conduct voter education campaigns to inform citizens about their rights and responsibilities, and encourage participation in the electoral process
  • They can also engage in advocacy efforts to promote electoral reforms and push for greater transparency and accountability from authorities
  • CSOs can serve as a link between citizens and electoral authorities, relaying concerns and providing feedback on the conduct of the process
• Collaboration and information-sharing among EMBs, the judiciary, and civil society can help identify and address threats to electoral integrity, as well as promote transparency and public confidence in the process
• However, the ability of civil society to contribute to electoral integrity can be hampered by factors such as legal restrictions, funding constraints, or security risks
• Examples of civil society engagement in electoral processes include:
  • The work of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in promoting voter education and monitoring elections
  • The efforts of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) to advocate for electoral reforms and observe elections in Lebanon