TYPES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEMS

SINGLE MEMBER PLURALITY SYSTEM (SMPS) OR FIRST PAST THE POST (FPTP)

It is commonly known as Winner Takes all. In this system, the country is divided into electoral constituencies. Any candidate who gets the highest number of votes wins the election even if the candidate gets the vote above the other

Disadvantage

The candidate can be rejected by most of the electorate but still manage to win an election by minority votes

SINGLE MEMBER MAJORITARIAN SYSTEM (SMMS)

• The winner of an election must win an absolute majority of votes in the constituency. This means that a candidate should win over 50% of the votes cast in an election.
• Where the candidate fails to get 50 +1 percent, the two top candidates should go for an Election Re-run

PROPORTION REPRESENTATION SYSTEM (PRS)

• In this system representatives to the legislature are chosen according to party regional or ethnic Proportions.
• The most common Proportional Representation system is the party-list system (PLS). The whole country forms a single constituency. After elections, parliamentary seats are shared among the political parties according to the proportion of (percentage) of total votes they have scored.
• For Instance, If Part A won 42 percent of the votes cast then 42% of the seats will go to the party each party nominates Members of parliament from among its members to represent in the legislature.
• The leader of the party which gets the highest proportion of seats in the legislature forms government.

Disadvantage

The members of parliament are not answerable to the electorate but to their political parties which nominated them.

MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONALITY SYSTEM

This is a combination of First Past the Post (FTP) and the Proportional Representation System. This system allows for some members of parliament to be elected through the FPTP system while others occupy legislative seats through the party List System

ELECTIONS

IMPORTANCE OF ELECTION

• Oblige candidates to explain to citizens why they should be elected
• They make political parties accountable to the people
• Provide a mechanism of peaceful transfer of power
• Offer regular opportunities for people to change government
• Provide the peace and stability necessary for the development

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTIONS IN GOOD GOVERNANCE

Periodic

This means that elections should be held at prescribed intervals

Competitive

Elections must take place in a conducive political environment where all candidates can compete freely and fairly

Inclusive

The definition of the eligible voter must be broad enough to include a large proportion of the adult population

Decisive

Democratic elections determine the leadershi0p of government. The winning candidate or should not be prevented from taking office

THE ZAMBIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM

The 2016 amended constitution of Zambia prescribes the Single member majoritarian system (SMMS). The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) conducts elections in Zambia

The Electoral Code of Conduct instrument number 90 of 2006

The electoral code of conduct of 2006 is a set of rules and principles that regulates the conduct of all stake orders before, during, and after elections. The code does not allow any form of intimidation violence, bribery, vote-buying corruption, and office inducement as means of winning elections. The code also does not allow the use of government facilities and transport for campaign purposes.

TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN ZAMBIA

1. Primary Elections

These are held whenever democratic political parties want to choose candidates to stand in presidential, parliamentary and local government elections

2. Presidential, Parliamentary and local Government Elections

• These are also known as General or tripartite Elections. They are held every five years to elect the president, members of parliament and ward councilors as stipulated in the Zambian constitution
• To stand in the presidential elections, the candidate must be sponsored by a political party. In the parliamentary and local government elections the candidate can either be sponsored by the party or stand as an independent

3. By Elections

By elections are held when a counselor or Member of Parliament or the president dies, or resigns from the party or is expelled from the party or six imprisoned for more than six months

VOTERS RIGHTS IN GOOD GOVERNANCE

• Seek information freely
• Have access to voter education
• Attend party campaigns without fear
• Express opinions freely and peacefully
• Vote for candidates of their choice
• Vote in secrecy
• Vote without intimidation or fear
• Be assisted if one has a disability
• Complain about irregularities
• Be excused from work to go and vote
• Be protected by law and police

ELECTION RIGGING (CHEATING)

• Opposition parties are not allowed to organize meetings freely
• Opposition parties are not given enough time on media to express their views and plans
• Members of the opposition parties are detained or put in prison in order to silence them
• The press is not free to express views or give information that is critical of the ruling party
• A party allows its members to physically assault supporters of other political parties
• There is no transparency in the counting, transportation, transmission, and announcement of election results from the polling.
• If voting time is cut short in constituencies where the ruling party is unpopular extended where it is popular
• When voter votes twice
• When a candidate gives money, beer, and other materials to voters win their support
• When the party in power uses government resources to campaign. For, example civil servants government vehicles and materials.
• Election results are announced while voting is still going on in other places.

DANGERS OF ELECTION RIGGING

• They may lead to costly election petition and by-elections.
• People may lose faith in democracy
• There may be increased voter apathy as people lose confidence in elections
• The government may lose the support of the people
• Strikes and demonstrations may be organized to protect against the false results
• If prevented from forming a government that has lost the elections may use weapons to fight against the government, thereby bringing about a civil.
• a rigging government may face international sanction and isolation