Why Uganda should adopt secret ballots at all levels of elections

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OPINION

By Quillino Bamwine

The just-concluded CEC elections have reignited the debate on whether lining up is an effective way of choosing leaders.

From complaints of vote buying and allegations of fake delegates, the writing is on the wall for the party to review this method.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has long used a delegates’ method where voters publicly line up behind their preferred candidates. While this system may appear simple, it creates significant risks of voter coercion, undermining free and fair elections.

The method may seem straightforward, but it lacks the privacy, fairness, and integrity that a secret ballot system provides.

A fundamental principle of democracy is that voters should be free to choose their leaders without fear of intimidation or retribution. The NRM’s lining-up method exposes voters to coercion because their choices are publicly visible.

Voters are coerced to line up behind certain candidates due to fear of reprisals from local leaders or rival factions. This undermines free will. In contrast, countries like South Africa and Botswana use secret ballots, ensuring voters can choose independently without fear of backlash. Cases of vote-buying and patronage were widely reported in the just-concluded CEC elections.

Some candidates allegedly distributed money to voters who lined up behind them, while those who refused faced intimidation. This is a problem because it turns elections into transactions, rather than free choices.

Why Secret Ballot is Better: Voters mark their choices in private, eliminating intimidation. It also encourages honest voting, as no one can verify how an individual voted. When voters publicly declare their choices, it becomes easier for candidates or their agents to monitor compliance, leading to vote-buying or threats.

In Nigeria’s last elections, open voting (similar to lining up) led to widespread vote-buying, where party agents rewarded those who openly supported their candidates.

Conversely, Ghana’s adoption of secret ballots in recent elections has reduced vote-buying because politicians cannot verify if voters kept their promises. Public voting methods like lining up are susceptible to manipulation by electoral officials or powerful individuals who can influence the counting process. This happened in Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections, the lack of a secret ballot allowed ruling party officials to intimidate voters into supporting ZANU-PF.

Kenya’s 2017 elections, which used secret ballots, saw fewer allegations of direct voter intimidation compared to previous elections.

With a secret ballot, ballots are cast anonymously, making it harder for officials to alter results. When voters fear retaliation, they may avoid participating in elections altogether. A secret ballot reassures voters that their choices remain confidential.

An intriguing example is Afghanistan’s 2014 elections. The use of secret ballots encouraged higher turnout, especially among women and minority groups who feared Taliban reprisals.

Uganda’s 2021 general election saw lower participation in NRM primaries (where lining up was used) compared to the national elections (which used secret ballots).

A secret ballot increases public trust in the electoral process and ensures marginalised groups can vote without fear.

Most democratic nations use secret ballots as recommended by the United Nations and the African Union. Public voting methods like lining up are seen as outdated and prone to abuse.

Tanzania transitioned from open voting to secret ballots in 1995, leading to more credible elections.

The US, UK, and India all rely on secret ballots to ensure fairness.

It meets global best practices for free and fair elections.

While the NRM’s lining-up method may appear efficient, it fails to protect voter rights, prevent fraud, and ensure genuine democratic participation. The secret ballot system is superior because it guarantees voter privacy, reduces vote-buying and intimidation.

Uganda should adopt secret ballots at all levels of elections to strengthen democracy, enhance transparency, and ensure that voters’ true choices are reflected in election outcomes.

The writer is a student of political science