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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
 Posted - 08 May 2006 : 10:41:29
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Hi all. Can someone explain me the voting system in The Gambia ? (i.e. do you have to do register before you can vote. And if so how is that organised. At what age you're allowed to vote? Can Gambians in the diaspora vote and if so how is that organised ?
Is the voting system identically for local elections, governmental and presidential elections. 
thnx
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 11:36:46
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| This interests me too...especially is the vote secret or can pressure be put on you to vote a certain way? Do people watch u? |
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rah
117 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 13:17:05
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This topic interests me because I use to be a registration officer on a seasonal basis in the Gambia.
Check out the website for full details: http://www.iec.gm/artman/publish/index.shtml
yeh,rah |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 13:32:13
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thanks Rah. Only couldnt find if the procedure is identical for elections for the citycouncils, the government and the president. Maybe you know the answer as an registration officer ?
greetz |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 13:50:15
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This is very interesting. I had heard that putting a token in the box was the way people voted. This means it is not truely private.
People need a paper to mark a X on in private.......of course this only works when people are literate....
What is the answer?
Could papers have pictures of the candidates for people to mark against?????
WHy dont some people take up their right to vote???? |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 14:49:29
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Gambiabev, why people don't take their right to vote is a complex issue and differs from country to country and situation to situation.
Here in Belgium is voting an obligation. If you don't vote you (can) get a penalty. I think this a good system. You don't have to register before (so manipulation is excluded) and every social class of the population has his voice in the policy of the government (from local to federal)
In most democratic countries (???) of the world voting is not obligatory.
People can chose not to vote because they are convinced elections are not fair anyway. There vote will not change the result. This is, as you know quiet well, the case in a lot of fake-democratic countries  . However as you probably remember the saga by the first election of Bush in the US  , polling is even there a problem. And the most incredible fact is that the US try to play voting-expert all over the world. 
Another reason why people don't feel the need to vote is (mainly here in europe) the fact that most of the political parties tend to search for the midfield. Socialists are not really socialists anymore (your own prime minister is a good example for that) and liberals are not pure liberals anymore. The people don't see hardly any difference anymore between the different political parties and what they stand for in their programmes. Therefor they don't feel the need to vote as they are convinced that the policy after the elections will not change anyway.
As an outstander to the Gambian situation I find it very difficult to see what the different parties stand for. The only common thing the opposition parties have is to vote Jammeh away. .... But you have seen what happened with their coalition NADD.
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rah
117 Posts |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 14:59:47
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it is interesting we talk about voting, here in the west it is an established sytems, might not like it but it is in place.
WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE in gambia for voting for, ie which party, what leader, when, where, how, it is easy to Yaya out, but who is the opposition. On one of my last visits, the opposition parties could not agree on the who was representing them!?!? think USA and democractic they did not have a leader and selected KERRY (who is he). I hope Gambians stop in fighting and selected a representative to go against Yaya
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 16:51:26
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Jede, I understand why people dont register to vote in Uk or even when registered dont use the vote. As a women of working class origins I feel very strongly that everyone SHOULD vote. Think what people did to get that right. But perhaps FORCING people is a step too far. In uk we are a bit stroppy and awkward...dont like the government to tell us what to do! In Belgium does everyone just do as they are told and turn out to vote??!!
But in Gambia I thought people would be keen to vote..... Perhaps they feel there is no point. Or perhaps they are suspicious of the registration process?
Rah, I have heard people in rural areas complaining that the vote isnt secret..people see where they put their counter. |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 17:19:49
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Gambiabev, 92 % of the citizen follow the law in case of the voting. Don't garantee we are always doing as told by the government, especially when it concerns paying taxes....
And I'm absolutely convinced that a an obligatory voting system is preferable. By this way politicians know at least what the whole population is thinking about their policy. You don't have to see this as a "forcing". Its a duty, just like its a duty to respect other laws in a organised society.
But this topic is often hot in Belgium, especially when one party thinks it will benefit by changing the system.
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 22:14:34
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gambiabev/jede
perhaps i can offer an insight to the voting system in the gambia. like Rah i also worked for the electoral body IEC, but then it had another name during the transition period. elections in the gambia have historically been free and fair. i think the reason is two fold.
one the actual voting system is 'primitive'. its so simple that any cheating can be easily detected and infact its almost impossible. once people are registered, the registration is stopped and a number of pebbles/marbles allocated. this is divided for each area.
a day before the elections each party goes to the regional office and confirms the number of marbles. they all have to agree. then during the election day each voter comes with an ID/+ voters card and his name is struck off the register and a finger marked. he is given his/her pebble to vote.
inside the voting booth, there is an old oil barrel filled with sand for each party in the colour of the party. after the voting each barrel, the register, the remaining pebbles are all escorted by the representatives of each party to a regional centre and counted on the spot in the presence of everyone.the marbles had to sum up to the original. there can be no difference +/-. the voting booths are always sealed and have only one entrance. no one can see. infact all the parties have to confirm this. also if people complain about illumination it has to be corrected before any further voting. the complaint/changes must also be noted. this was the case where i worked, an old woman complained of poor visibility.
its impossible to cheat in the voting system.
this system has advantages because of the high illiteracy and also works for a small number of voters far less than 1m people.
but from my observation one has to understand the cultural mindset.
people in african countries tend to vote for the government not political parties.whoever is in power will likely win an election. women are also greatly influneced by their husbands on who to vote for, as its a male dominated society that sees women as not being capable of deciding on their own.
i dont agree with obligatory voting as i dont agree with conscription. but i am in favour of raising the voting age perhaps to 25. this will favour mature people who understand the responsiblities of daily life like a family, trying to earn an income etc.
i hope this helps |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 22:31:20
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Thank you. That was very interesting. Women in uk did just follow the husbands pattern until about 40 years ago...... women need to be educated to think for themselves.
I dont agree with complusory voting because NOT voting can be seen as political too..it can be a protest.....
Are votes bought by bribary and promises?
Also if you raise the voting age you have a whole group in the population (18 -25) with no voice. Do they work? Do they pay tax? Then they SHOULD have a voice. Even if we think it is an immature voice. That is better than a revolution.
People need to feel listened to and part of society. Voting is an important part of that. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 22:33:49
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Does all the voting take place on one day? How long does it take to get the result?
When is voting day this year? |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 22:58:28
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gambiabev
all the voting takes place in one day (about 12hrs). all the counting is done immediately and depending on the number of people in the area the result is out within a couple of hours. its like in the UK the results are released by area not centralised. if you are present where it is counted you will know before its announced.
most results are known by the morning of the next day.people normally stay up hooked to their TV/radios
the women issue is not just with elections but with the whole society. women for example are not usually allowed to own land. etc
i agree with your last point but most people around 18/19 are usually still in high school and thus should be more concerned with their studies. also they seem to make up large parts of the popluation unlike europe where the population is aging. i still think around 25yrs would be the european equivalent of 'young people'.
the election will take place in october. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 23:00:37
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| Thanks for that |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 23:43:34
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Thnx Njucks. That was clear for me.
Still have my question if Gambians in the diaspora can vote (without flying back home of course). And has anyone an idea how many Gambians are living in the diaspora. I'm everyday surprise to see Gambians living all over the world (Scandinavia, Russia, Taiwan, Brasil, Egypt, uk and usa and all countries of europe) |
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