Burying the sordid past of electoral rigging

Aug 06, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – In Guyana, the specter of electoral rigging looms large. It casts a long and ominous casting a shadow over the nation’s democratic aspirations. The stain of manipulated elections tarnishes Guyana’s image and leads to all kinds of problems for the nation.

If Guyana is to consolidate democratic rule, it has to stop this habit of constantly fiddling with elections rules. No amount of changes to laws or elections rules will resolve the root problem – the presence within elections of parties that perpetuate or benefit from rigging elections. The best way to safeguard our democracy is not to further reform the electoral system but to decisively exclude those who seek to subvert it.

Electoral rigging is an anachronism. It is a relic of a bygone era that has no place in modern politics. In a world increasingly defined by democracy and respect for the rule of law, the very notion of manipulating the democratic process is antithetical to the values of a civilized society.

Yet, some local political parties – the culprits are well known – persist in clinging to these outdated practices, attempting to distort the will of the people for their gain. Such actions are not only morally reprehensible but also fundamentally undermine the integrity of the democratic process.

Those who continue to advocate for or participate in electoral rigging are living under a shell. They are disconnected from the norms of modern democracies. In modern democracies, the power of the ballot box is sacrosanct. It is the ultimate expression of the people’s will.

Any attempt to undermine this principle is a direct assault on the foundations of democracy. In Guyana, the time has come to categorically reject the presence of such elements within our political system. Their irrelevance to contemporary democratic ideals is evident. Their continued participation in elections will only delay the nation’s progress.

Equally dangerous are those who peddle false narratives of rigged elections without any  substantive evidence. While vigilance against electoral malpractice is necessary, unfounded allegations serve only to inflame tensions.  In a democracy, the currency of political discourse should be truth and integrity, not deceit and manipulation. Those who irresponsibly spread falsehoods about electoral outcomes should also be held accountable, as their actions can be as damaging as the rigging itself.

To protect the sanctity of our elections, it is crucial to implement stringent measures to prevent those who have been involved in electoral rigging from participating in future elections. This includes not only those who directly engage in such acts but also those who aid, abet, or condone them. A democratic society must be vigilant in ensuring that its political processes are free from the taint of manipulation. By debarring such individuals and parties, we can create a political environment where the focus is on fair competition and genuine representation of the people’s will.

Some argue that the solution to Guyana’s electoral woes lies in systemic reforms. While improvements can always be made, the fundamental issue lies not in the system itself but in the actors who seek to exploit it. An electoral system, no matter how robust, cannot withstand the onslaught of unscrupulous individuals determined to undermine it.

Therefore, the focus should be on excluding these bad actors from the electoral process altogether. By removing the chief source of the problem—the cheats—we can ensure the integrity of our elections without the need for drastic systemic changes.

It is high time that Guyana buries its sordid past of electoral rigging and moves forward towards a future where only those committed to fair and transparent elections are allowed to participate. This is not just a matter of legal reform but a moral issue. The people of Guyana deserve leaders who respect their right to choose, who understand that true power lies in the consent of the governed, not in the manipulation of the process.

To achieve this, Guyana must ensure that those with a history of undermining the democratic process are barred from participation in elections. The public should also be encouraged to avoid from supporting those who have previously engaged in rigging.

The journey towards a fully functional democracy is ongoing. While Guyana has made significant strides rejecting those who have no intention of contesting elections fairly, is the main means to ensure that the true will of the people prevails.

It is a necessary step towards building a future where elections are a genuine reflection of the people’s choice, free from the distortions and manipulation. Only then can we truly say that we have left the past behind and embraced a future worthy of the ideals of democracy.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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