The electorate has the power to defend their vote
Feb 27, 2011
I am writing to express regret on the electoral fraud and violence that marred the recently stalled Kampala mayoral elections. However, in the same way, I would like to commend the vigilance demonstrated by the citizens, but also the swift decision taken by the Electoral Commission (EC) to discontin
Crispy Kaheru
I am writing to express regret on the electoral fraud and violence that marred the recently stalled Kampala mayoral elections. However, in the same way, I would like to commend the vigilance demonstrated by the citizens, but also the swift decision taken by the Electoral Commission (EC) to discontinue the elections in Kampala.
Whereas many people continue to wonder who could have been responsible for the ballot paper pre-ticking and stuffing of the ballot boxes at a number of polling stations around the city, it is important to note that polling materials are the responsibility of the EC at all times before and even after polling processes.
The occurrences witnessed in Kampala at the mayoral elections raise more questions than answers; do we doubt the storage and safety of the polling materials before they get to the polling stations? Can we trust the impartiality of the polling and electoral officials? These are some of the questions that may remain unanswered at this moment, but which the EC should clarify.
Citizen vigilance played a critical role to highlight the irregularities that led to the cancellation of the Kampala elections. This underscores the power of the electorate in defending their vote.
It is everyone’s duty to preserve the sanctity of the ballot — but this calls for devotion of time, energy and even life as we might have seen in the recent elections.
If we call ourselves civic-minded citizens, then why can’t we remain watchful of the entire polling exercise at our polling stations?
The mandate of protecting your vote rests with you and, therefore, should not be simplistically relegated to only the polling officers, the candidates’ agents and the constable at a polling station. Citizens must be there to count, escort and protect their votes.
The high levels of citizenry vigilance exhibited in the stalled mayoral elections demonstrate the power of an informed and concerned citizenry to guarantee a free, fair, orderly and clean election. This also shows that a vigilant electorate can ensure honesty and accountability from those in leadership positions.
Such a citizenry does not evolve overnight; the real challenge is actually to enlighten all citizens across the country to be able to comprehend that they reserve the power to deliver credible elections.
Citizens must know their rights and insist upon them, while also performing their civic duties. Good citizenship means looking intently beyond one’s own personal interests to protect the rights of others.
To preserve the sanctity of the ballot, citizens’ vigilance and organising is just as important as the election and outcome of the election. In the same way, those managing the election including the security should be able to provide an enabling environment to the citizens to perform their obligatory duty.
As we head for the next round of elections, let the entire electorate remain unprecedentedly eager on the polling processes in order to weed out possibilities of vote theft and violence.
The writer is the project coordinator – Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda
I am writing to express regret on the electoral fraud and violence that marred the recently stalled Kampala mayoral elections. However, in the same way, I would like to commend the vigilance demonstrated by the citizens, but also the swift decision taken by the Electoral Commission (EC) to discontinue the elections in Kampala.
Whereas many people continue to wonder who could have been responsible for the ballot paper pre-ticking and stuffing of the ballot boxes at a number of polling stations around the city, it is important to note that polling materials are the responsibility of the EC at all times before and even after polling processes.
The occurrences witnessed in Kampala at the mayoral elections raise more questions than answers; do we doubt the storage and safety of the polling materials before they get to the polling stations? Can we trust the impartiality of the polling and electoral officials? These are some of the questions that may remain unanswered at this moment, but which the EC should clarify.
Citizen vigilance played a critical role to highlight the irregularities that led to the cancellation of the Kampala elections. This underscores the power of the electorate in defending their vote.
It is everyone’s duty to preserve the sanctity of the ballot — but this calls for devotion of time, energy and even life as we might have seen in the recent elections.
If we call ourselves civic-minded citizens, then why can’t we remain watchful of the entire polling exercise at our polling stations?
The mandate of protecting your vote rests with you and, therefore, should not be simplistically relegated to only the polling officers, the candidates’ agents and the constable at a polling station. Citizens must be there to count, escort and protect their votes.
The high levels of citizenry vigilance exhibited in the stalled mayoral elections demonstrate the power of an informed and concerned citizenry to guarantee a free, fair, orderly and clean election. This also shows that a vigilant electorate can ensure honesty and accountability from those in leadership positions.
Such a citizenry does not evolve overnight; the real challenge is actually to enlighten all citizens across the country to be able to comprehend that they reserve the power to deliver credible elections.
Citizens must know their rights and insist upon them, while also performing their civic duties. Good citizenship means looking intently beyond one’s own personal interests to protect the rights of others.
To preserve the sanctity of the ballot, citizens’ vigilance and organising is just as important as the election and outcome of the election. In the same way, those managing the election including the security should be able to provide an enabling environment to the citizens to perform their obligatory duty.
As we head for the next round of elections, let the entire electorate remain unprecedentedly eager on the polling processes in order to weed out possibilities of vote theft and violence.
The writer is the project coordinator – Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda