Elections: Meaning, Functions, Types, Merits and Demerits

CONTENT

• Meaning, Functions and Demerits
• Types of Elections
• Merits and Demerits of types

MEANING OF ELECTIONS

An election may be defined as an act of choosing or selecting candidates into different offices in government. The candidates are to represent the people of a country in the parliament or in other positions of government. It is a contest between competing political parties or groups to acquire political power through the ballot i.e. electorate’s mandate.

FUNCTIONS/ADVANTAGES OF ELECTIONS

Elections are held to serve the following functions;

• Choosing of Representatives; Elections makes it possible for the citizens to choose those that will represent their interest and opinions in the government.
• Elections are used to change a government smoothly and orderly.
• Elections confer legitimacy on the government as representatives of the people
• Election makes the government responsive to the needs of the people since it can be voted out
• Elections give the political parties the opportunity to educate the people on national issues.
• Elections are used to test the popularity of the government or a member of parliament.
• Elections help to integrate the different societies.
• Elections help to socialize the people.

DEMERITS OF ELECTIONS

• Elections bring about polarization of the people of a country into antagonistic groups.
• The division of people in a country caused by election brings about disunity in a country.
• Elections are too expensive to conduct.
• Minority groups are usually not favored during elections.
• Elections cause uneven development as a result of neglect of areas that failed to vote for the party in power.
• Elections breeds nepotism, divisionism and ethnocentrism.
• Elections enthrone politicians who deceive the people with their fake manifestoes and sugar-coated tongue.

Evaluation Questions

• What is election?
• Identify five functions of election

TYPES OF ELECTION

Direct Election

This is the method by which the electorate cast their votes directly in choosing people to represent them in the legislature and other offices in government. Only the qualified voters are allowed to carry out this political exercise.

ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT ELECTIONS

• It gives voters the freedom of electing members of the legislature without           interference
• It is a necessary requirement of representative government.
• It guarantee political equality of the citizens i.e. one man one vote.
• Voters would show more interest in government and will know their representatives.
• Elected representatives are usually the popular choice of the people.

DEMERITS OF DIRECT ELECTION

• Several voters may not be able to vote intelligently due to lack of proper political education.
• Direct voting may cause hatred and embarrassment.
• It encourages violence during polling as a result of the number of people involved.
• A lot of rigging is involved in direct election because it is final election to elect representatives.
• Corrupt-minded candidates may use their wealthy position to buy the votes of the electorates particularly in poor societies.

INDIRECT ELECTION

This is election into the legislature by two or more stages i.e. through Electoral College who will now vote on behalf of the people.

MERITS OF INDIRECT ELECTION                          

• There is competence on the part of the electors who finally select the members of the legislature.
• It is less violent than direct election.
•  The candidates elected through indirect elections are more qualified going by the intelligent level of the people that elected them.
• It is less expensive and with little opportunity of rigging elections and electoral malpractices.
• It increases quality of legislation and administration in a country owing to the candidate’s qualification.

DEMERITS OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS

• The Electoral College can be easily influenced and bribed with money.
• Some interest may not be adequately represented in the legislature.
• The electorate does not know their representatives and this form of election do not reflect popular choice.
• Government policies are not in line with the masses as they did not have the opportunity to choose manifestoes of their choice.
• It does not encourage equality of votes and it is less democratic since they did not vote.

EVALUATION QUESTION

• List 5 merits of direct election.
• What do you understand by indirect elections?

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTION

1. Define direct election.
2. State 4 merits of direct election.
3. What are the limitations of direct election?
4. Explain government as an institution of the state.
5. State 5 reasons why we study government

READING ASSIGNMENT

Comprehensive government by J. U.Anyaele pages 104-106

Essential government by C.C. Dibie pages 112-113.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. The following are types of elections except—– (a) direct election (b) indirect election  (c)run-off election  
2. One of the merits of direct election is [a] it allows rigging [b] it is undemocratic [c] equality of votes.
3. The major functions of elections is that it [a] allows victimization [b] facilitates change of government [c] engenders hunger
4. One of the demerits of indirect elections is [a] bribery and corruption [b] popular candidate [c] it is less violent.
5. A system where people elect their representatives is called (a) electoral college (b) election (c) electoral district.

THEORY

1.    Discuss the following;

i. Direct election

ii. Indirect election

2. State 5 reasons why election is important in a political system