VIEW FROM THE CWP
ELECTION REFORM AND WOMEN
View from the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Chairperson
Dear Readers of The Parliamentarian, I welcome you to yet another issue of The Parliamentarian. However, the theme of this issue is quite unique in that elections and voting reforms is a very critical matter in democratic governance. Every citizen has a responsibility to vote on Election Day. But it is the government’s responsibility to make sure the system works efficiently for those who exercise this responsibility. Those who take the time to participate in democracy are owed at least that much.
If democracy has anything to do with self- determination – and self-determination with dependability – then the electoral system might well be the very heart of democracy. If this seems like an exaggeration, then let me try and sketch briefly what the electoral system should include. It verifies who can or should be allowed to vote. When should electoral rolls be prepared, revised and how? The formation and functioning (including funding, etc.) of political parties is also an integral part of the electoral system. This also includes the basic question of who can contest an election.
Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, MP Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda
is most associated with the electoral system. On what basis the winner of the election is decided is another key element of the electoral system. These are some of the pre-election acitivities and those that take place during an election.
There are a whole range of post-election activities during which the outcome of the electoral process are managed, such as post-election disputes, election petitions, the formation of the government and the subsequent functioning of the government (including issues such as defections).
This illustrates the critical role of the electoral system in ensuring an effective and functioning democracy and hence enhances the importance of electoral reforms.
This is followed by the actual conduct of the election which is what
Electoral reforms should be aimed at among other things, improving the responsiveness of electoral processes to public desires and expectations. However, not all electoral change can be considered electoral reform. Electoral change can only be referred to as ‘reform’ if its primary goal is to improve electoral processes, for example, by fostering enhanced impartiality, inclusiveness, transparency, integrity or accuracy. However, this distinction is not always clear in practice: some changes may be characterized as desirable or even necessary ‘reforms’ by their proponents, but as improper ‘manipulation’ by their opponents. Random and/or frequent electoral change, while it may be reformist, can also be confusing to voters, and thus defeat its purpose. Elections and voting reforms are vital issues to consider in nation building for a number of reasons.
In theory, electoral systems and reform have become rather a ‘hot topic’ with the surfacing of new democracies in many parts of the world. A recent drift towards electoral reform has also emerged in several countries. In reality the electoral system is important as it defines how the political system will function. It is a device to choose viable governments and give them legitimacy. It is also aimed at reflecting the wishes of the voters, to produce strong stable governments and elect qualified representatives.
146 | The Parliamentarian | 2015: Issue Three
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