On vote buying and selling

Dr. Frederic Charles Schaffer in his study "The Comparative Politics of Vote Buying", defines vote buying as a simple economic transaction in which parties and candidates distribute material benefits to individual electors in exchange for support at the ballot box.

It constitutes making a contract, accepting an auction bid, recognizing power, acknowledging goodwill, compromising principles, etc. which relegate citizens to cast their votes out of fear, duty, indignity, gratitude and even righteousness by allowing calculated vested interests to happen.

Vote selling, on the other hand, is taking money or material gifts from someone who wants the receiver to vote or not to vote for a particular person. In our present electoral practices, the voters usually wait, expect or demand favors during election time. Subsequently in this manner, the poor candidates grope for resources in contrast to the moneyed ones who find the greatest way to win through hakot, food, ayuda, prize sponsorships, materials for coffin and kitchenware, and money. If the candidates have the well-oiled machinery, then the voters experience the luxury to select the highest bidder. Sad to say, in most realities, the better-qualified and honest candidates lose since conscience is not used.

Since the start of our rights of suffrage during the Commonwealth period and up to present times, there have been complaints of suspicious results brought about by vote buying. History also tells us that irregularities are in the forms of ballot switching and the famous phrase "guns, goons, and gold" in ensuring victories.

Nowadays, we can hear of pre-programmed results, glitches, attacking, bullying, trolling, disinformation, mind-conditioning surveys and false news. It would be indeed an uphill climb for those who seek fair, honest, and credible elections. As to the query, when can there be complete people's trust and satisfaction, we cannot tell. Simply saying, only God knows.

Vote buying and selling have become the recurring features in most countries' electoral process. Consequently, there is an automatic temptation for corruption by politicians who consider politics as a business enterprise to invest and to gain later. The more they spend, the more they want to retrieve investments through shady deals, projects, and donations.

There were attempts through surveys and studies to educate the people to use the conscience vote. There was no known successes since respondents backslide to the normal culture and tradition. The problem lingers since there are prevalent givers and receivers. There can be poor judgment by people living in poor conditions.

After the elections, we are always ready to face consequences; que sera, sera. It doesn't matter whether it is bleak or bright. There are among us who are sore losers and sore winners because of fanatic beliefs. But our conscience keeps on haunting us if whether we made the wrong decision because of financial or material benefits.

But we still have time to move on. We still have the period to uplift our lives and make this country a better place to live in for our next generations to come. Let's fight fake news and disinformation. Let's give religious and relevant education a chance, to increase the number of intelligent voters who can issue good judgment of what is right and wrong and not easily succumb to lies, dishonesty, and easy money.

God bless the Philippines!

Lito Gador Tampus