Guard against electoral fraud

Oct 01, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
Electoral fraud is the illegal interference with the process of an election it can occur at any stage of the electoral cycle sometimes even in the pre-electoral stages, where some governments interfere with the planning process of the elections. In a narrow election a small amount of fraud may be enough to change the election results.
Even if the outcome is not affected, the revelation of fraud can have a damaging effect if not punished, as it can reduce voters’ confidence in democracy.
At a recent press conference, the General Secretary of the People Progressive Party, Cde Bharrat Jagdeo, emphasised the importance to strengthen the Electoral Laws for the prevention of electoral frauds from political parties and GECOM.
The deterrence of such practices can be achieved through consistent and effective prosecution. Elections can help despots shore up their grip on power. Holding flawed polls can enable embattled governments to secure access to valuable economic resources like foreign aid, oil deals etc.
While the APNU/AFC coalition government appears to be in its death throes it would use the ballot box to re-established political dominance. This is when the facade of democracy is going to be turned into a tool of oppression to satisfy this government.
As Guyanese we cannot allow the government and GECOM to undermine the ideas of democracy and turn elections into empty rituals where the government always wins as was evident before 1992, the PNC era of rigged elections in Guyana.
As an electorate we must insist that the APNU/AFC government, the opposition, and GECOM move immediately to ensure that electoral laws are strengthened and implemented , so that persons in the electoral cycles must be held accountable for any electoral frauds in Guyana .
Regards
Zamal Hussain

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