DEMOCRATIC ELECTION
Concept of Election and Democratic Election
Election is the process of choosing a leader by vote, especially for political position whereby the citizens
are given the opportunity to choose a person to lead them.
Democratic election is the process of choosing leaders who operate through the principles of democracy.
In any democratic country, the citizens are given the chance to choose the leaders in free and fair
environment
Indicators Of Democratic Election
i. Free and Fair election campaigns. Election campaigns are the series of political meetings
which are designed to win voters for a certain candidates and political party. In these meetings,
candidates present their policies, promises and programs. Citizens are free to express their
opinions and freedom of association. This will enable them to make the right choice in the
election
ii. Equal opportunities to all political parties. There should be equal opportunities to all political
parties and their candidates without biasness. The mass media should give equal coverage to all
candidates of different political parties
iii. Code of Ethics for Election. This is the agreements between National Electoral Commission
(NEC), Government and political parties for the purpose of sustaining fairness, mutual
understanding and peace during election process. The NEC is responsible for planning,
supervising and conducting election that are free and fair
iv. Presence of Neutral Electoral Commission. Election should be planned by neutral electoral
commission which will operate independently without biasness to the political parties
v. Equal access to mass media. This also is important for any working democratic system. All
candidates and their respective political parties must have equal access to mass media to air
their opinions
Importance of Democratic Election
i. It promotes democracy. Democratic election promote democracy because it gives the
opportunity to the citizens t participate in the political activities in their country
ii. It ensures good governance. The democratic election ensures the good governance because the
elected officials such as members of parliament are accountable to their citizens
iii. It creates an acceptable government. Those who are elected are chosen by majority citizens.
This show that, the leaders are acceptable by the large number of citizens
iv. It strengthens democratic activities. It gives the chances to the citizens to ship changed their
leaders peaceful and promote viable multiparty system in the country
v. It ensures the development in the country. This is resulted from the accountability of the
elected leaders who will decide an important issues of the country for the benefit of the citizens
Implementation of free and fair election in Tanzania
Concept of Free and Fair Election
Free and fair election is the situation whereby choosing of leaders or representatives is done
democratically. This means that, in order for election to be free and fair it must be competitive, periodic,
inclusive, definitive and not limited to selecting candidates
Conditions For Free and Fair Election
i. Equal competition to all political parties. There must be the competitive for vacant seat for
councilors, members of parliament or president under equal treatment. Every political party are
free to assemble, move and make speeches
ii. Frequency of Election. There must be election interval where the election must be conducted
in specific period. In Tanzania the general election is conducted after every five years
iii. Wide range of alternatives. There must be many choices to select the candidates. This means
that, election should not be limited to select a candidate or representatives
iv. Presence of Secret Ballot. The election must be conducted in secrecy environment where
people can vote for their representatives without fear
v. Election must be inclusive to all adult citizens. The right to vote must be exercised by the
large proportion of the adult population who qualify to vote.
vi. Presence of Neutral Electoral Commission. Election should be planned by neutral electoral
commission which will operate independently without biasness to the political parties
vii. Free flow of information. This also is important for any working democratic system. Accurate
and unbiased information is needed by the people to make correct decisions
Voting procedures in democratic election
i. Registration of voters. All eligible citizens are registered by the electoral commission in a
permanent voters registration book and after that they are provided with special voter’s identity
card that will be used during the election
ii. Commencement of election campaigns. Election campaigns are announced by the National
Electoral Commission. All political parties are allowed to participate in peaceful campaigns
iii. Voting process. A day of election to all eligible citizens in the country is announced by the
National Electoral Commission. The voters are given ballot paper which they cast their vote.
They go into the voting booth (chamber) to cast their votes by pitting (√ ¿ to a candidate whom
they wishes
iv. Counting of votes. after the voting, the electoral commission officials and representatives from
political parties will count the votes and later sign up a special form of confirming the number
of votes each candidate obtained
v. Announcing the election results. In a democratic election, the winners are announced soon by
the responsible authority as stipulated in the election laws and principles.
National Electoral Commission (NEC)
National Electoral Commissionis the organ responsible for supervising and coordinating the general election and by- election conducted in Tanzania. The head of NEC is the chairperson who is appointed by
the President of the united republic of Tanzania from among of the judges of High Court or Court of
Appeal and he or she is assisted by a vice- chairperson who also is appointed by President. Also in the
NEC, both chairperson and vice chairperson are assisted by Director of the Election who is appointed by
the President and he or she is responsible for executing daily routine of NEC. Zanzibar has her own
electoral commission known as Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC). Both NEC and ZEC are
constitutionally required to operate collaboratively
The Roles of NEC during the General Election
i. To make people complying with electoral rule. NEC is responsible to ensure that, the election
participants must comply with constitution and electoral laws
ii. Provide civic education for voters. NEC is responsible to provide civic education for the
election procedures to the voters in the country
iii. Make timetable and notice available before hand. NEC is responsible to arrange and make
timetable for the conducting the general election in the country
iv. Provide adequate training for electoral staffs. NEC provide the training to its electoral staffs
in order to perform well the electoral activities during the general election
v. To announce the results of the election. NEC has the power to announce the election results in
the country, and the presidential result is announced by the chairperson of NEC
vi. Declaration of the electoral constituencies. Constituencies are the areas of election which are
represented by the members of parliament. Example Tanzania has 264 constituencies
THE SPIRIT OF TOLERANCE
Concept of spirit of tolerance
Spirit of tolerance is the inner behavior of being in the mood of unpleasant situation. In any democratic
state all citizens are supposed to demonstrate both the spirit of accepting constructive criticism and defeat.
The spirit of tolerance helps people to accept announcement of election results. Spirit of tolerance should
be observed on
i. During election campaigns.
This is the part of initial election activities where the candidates
from various political parties hold meeting to tell people about their party and convince people
to vote for them. They should not try to force their ideas and opinions on others; it might lead to
the conflicts
ii. During Polling Day.
This is the day in which people vote in election. During this day people
are supposed to have the tolerance due to the things that are taking place during this day.
Thefollowing events take place on polling day;
Once the voters arrive at a polling stations, they present their voters cards to check their
names in the voters registration book by line
Voters are given ballot paper which they cast their vote. Ballot paper is the special paper
used for voting. They go into the voting booth, the place where they make their mark on
ball of paper usually (√ ¿ to a candidate whom they wishes
Voters are secret in the voting booth. No one is allowed to see where the voters mark the
ballot paper
Voters placed the folded ballot paper into the boxes
The voters’ fingers are marked in dye or ink. This is to make sure that each person only
votes once.
The voters show the tolerance by obeying order and procedures of voting. They should not
quarrel with each other even if they support different political parties or candidates. They
should not in any way try to stop any one from voting
iii. During counting of votes.
When voting is over at a polling station, counting of votes begin. A
designed official breaks the seal of the ballot boxes and opens the box in front of the political
parties’ agents and neutral monitors, sometimes international monitors are present. Each ballot
paper is examined and counted by a ballot clerk with the monitors watching and checking on the
counting. The spoilt ballot papers are kept aside.
A tolerance is shown during this stage when the monitors and agents do not just interrupt the
counting process.
iv. During Declaration of Results.
The results are announced on the spot. Parties’ agents sign
special results forms to confirm they have witnessed the vote counting process and accept the
results, a copy of the results are posted outside the polling station. This is done to ensure
transparency and avoid the possibility of election rigging. All results from the polling stations in
a constituency is announced by the returning officer, he or she announces the winner of a
constituency. The results of the presidential election is announced by
a chairperson of National Electoral Commission (NEC)
In the spirit of tolerance defeat candidates should accept the results. Their supporters too. The
winners or supporters should also be humble in their winning and avoid angering those who
have lost
Conducting by-election
By-election is the election which is conducted to fill a vacant seat of a Member of Parliament or a
councilor between the general election. By- election is conducted if there is one of the following
circumstances;
i. Resigning of councilor or Member of Parliament. By- election is conducted in a constituency
or a ward if a member of parliament or councilor resign from his or her position
ii. Death of a councilor or Member of Parliament. By- election is conducted in a constituency
or ward if a member of parliament or councilor died when he or she is in position
iii. Dissolve of the Parliament. By- election is conducted if the parliament is dissolved before the
end of its life time of five years after the general election
iv. Failure of a member of parliament to discharge duties. By- election is conducted in a
constituency if a member of parliament fails to discharge his or her duties
v. High court decisions due to wrong in general election. By- election can be conducted if the
High court make decision for re-election due to the wrong in general election
QUESTIONS
1. Write short notes of the following
a. Democracy
b. Multiparty democracy
c. Election
d. Democratic election
e. Free and fair election
f. Election campaigns
g. Political party
h. National Electoral Commission
i. ballot paper
j. By election
k. polling station
l. Polling booth
m. National electoral commission
(n) spirit oftolerance
(o) election candidate
(p) Citizens’ participation
2. For the democracy to thrive in any country, there are the pillars of democracy to be observed. In
five points, assess the achievements of Tanzania in broadening the scope of democracy
3. The chairperson of Ngosiko village held the village assembly in order to address the significance of
having multi party system to the adult citizen in the village. As a democratic expert in Tanzania,
highlights the features of that system of democracy in Tanzania
4. You have given the chance to deliver talks on the factors that contributed to the existence of
multiparty system in Tanzania, which five points will you most consider?
5. The adoption of multiparty system in Tanzania brought the changes in practicing democratic
activities in the country. As one of a leader of one political party in Tanzania, highlights five
advantages of this system of democracy in the country
6. You are invited to give a motivational speech to the voters of Tanga constituency. Prepare five key
points on the importance of democratic election in Tanzania
7. Many countries in the world hold the general election after every specified interval, but the
challenge remains on whether the election is conducted in free and fair environment. In five points,
explain how you can achieve the free and fair election in Tanzania?
8. The form two students of Msaragambo secondary school organized a tour to visit the National
Electoral Commission (NEC). They wanted to know its functions and responsibilities. Assume you
were the office in charge, elaborate five functions you will explain to the students.
9. People of Nganeko constituency conducted by- election to fill the vacant position of their member of
parliament. What five circumstance you think may cause people in any constituency to conduct by election?
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