Money can/can’t buy votes

Although it is too soon to discuss vote-buying, its manifestations are already in our midst. Despite the fact that vote-buying and vote-selling are detrimental to the democratic process, they are widespread in many developing countries. The Philippines, a country with democratically elected leaders, is no exception. Corruption and a lack of transparency continue to thwart democratic progress. In the past, elections have been tainted by fraud, intimidation, and political violence.

Vote-buying is a major issue in every election in the Philippines, a chronic affliction that undermines our faith in the political process and democracy itself.

How many times have we seen politicians use money to buy the votes of Filipinos in previous elections? How many times have we been told that all we have to do is accept the money and vote according to our conscience? Even our young first-time voters are participating in this process, as their forefathers did long before them in what was intended to be an egalitarian exercise of right.

Vote buying is common in nascent democracies' election campaigns, with political parties attempting to mobilize support by offering cash or material advantages to voters in exchange for support prior to the election. Poverty is widely regarded in the published studies as a primary source of vote buying at both the micro and macro levels: poor countries are expected to have higher levels of vote buying. Poor individuals are frequently identified as the primary targets of political parties' vote buying efforts.

Even months before the election, we see candidates making appearances at gymnasiums, social halls, and other huge groups under the premise of distributing aid, much like an early Christmas gift. We can't help but ask why we didn't notice these efforts earlier in the year. We're puzzled as to why these lawmakers were so unnoticed during tough times. And we all know the answer. However, not all of them. To be fair, we do witness a few people who are persistent in their efforts to aid those in need, whether or not they have a specific need. They are always on the side of our underprivileged brothers and sisters.

According to international standards, every citizen has the right to stand for office in a true democracy, subject to appropriate constraints. Vote buying makes it hard to achieve these requirements by punishing potential candidates who are poor. Women and minorities, in particular, are underrepresented in politics.

Specific initiatives, such as voter education campaigns, on the other hand, have the potential to have an impact. Let us encourage voters to vote based on their moral convictions. But, as a cynic might argue, how can we achieve such socioeconomic prosperity if our corrupt political structure is impeding us? On the other hand, our economy's modest gains, combined with the decline in election corruption in other countries, should give us hope that vote-buying, no matter how widespread, can be eliminated.

Money can buy votes, but it's nearly impossible to undo the consequences of being wrongfully governed by elected officials.