9. 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 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.
b. 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.
c. In the US, each state has its own method of voting, its own procedure of counting and its own 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.
Answers
Answer:
a. On the vote-counting day, the representatives of each party that has contested in the election should be present. Nigeria should follow this rule of the election that is practised in India.
b. In Fiji, the election commission should set up an enquiry-committee and the party or the candidate who was involved in this negative propaganda should be debarred from the election.
c. The US should have one Election Commission, who can make rules for states for the election.
Explanation:
a) Election commission should be an independent body. There should not be any interference and if there is some interference then they should be punished.
b) Everyone should have their choice . It should not be as per the choice of candidates.
c) There should be same code of conduct of election everywhere and it should be done by a single body as India have its EC.