Integrity of electoral process and results must be guarded jealously

Voters queue to cast their ballots at the NSSF grounds in Nairobi, 2017. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

A process and its outcomes are as good as the people managing it. The sanctity of electoral inputs, processes and products must be jealously guarded.

If the inputs and processes are mediocre, then the outputs will be nothing short of mediocrity; below par in every desirable statistic. Despite the amount of deployed resources, persons and institutions with consistently questionable integrity will churn out questionable results.

When pushed to make a choice between strategy and character in election management, ethical leaders prioritise character. Choosing strategy is akin to cooking a nice meal in a dirty pot.

The Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security, Deepening Democracy (2012) defines electoral integrity as the preparation and administration of an electoral cycle in a professional, impartial, and transparent manner based on the democratic principles of universal suffrage and political equality as reflected in international standards and agreements. The European Commission for Democracy Through Law identifies respect for electoral democracy, ethical conduct, professionalism and accuracy, institutional safeguards, oversight and enforcement, and transparency and accountability as the basic principles of effective management of electoral integrity.

Elections are not a day’s activity or event whose outcomes bear a close link with inputs and processes. Given space, raw and untamed power have the potential to distort and replace desired electoral processes and results. Consequently, electoral integrity must of necessity embrace the divine aspirations of all stakeholders. Every stakeholder must be nagged in their conscience and inner heart by the integrity of the choices they make. For this reason, the sanctity and integrity of every electoral process and product must be jealously guarded through consistent, legitimate standards and practices to help detect, deter and prevent improprieties and illegalities.

The electorate are overly focused on political aspirants than the process during an election. According to the United Nations, the true measure of an election is the ability to engender broad public confidence in the process and trust in the outcome. Effective management of electoral process and outcomes is an invaluable ingredient of electoral integrity and a sure springboard for sustainable and peaceful development. Ethical conduct amongst the electorate must complement the exercise of democratic freedom of choice. Actions should be measured and considerate, within the discipline and commitment of our common good.

Electoral integrity is demonstrated in the respect for electoral democracy when there is respect for election management agency above partisan interests. All stakeholders within the electoral process agree to respect and abide by actions and decisions of the management body within the bounds of law. Any election management agency should be wary of partisan manipulation. Similarly, the integrity of the election management body throughout the process must be unquestionable, integrating the value of strategy and character. Bungled elections can be attributed to a topsy-turvy election management.

A compromised election flies against the principles of good governance, unfortunately with potentially explosive effects. Electoral stakeholders must work around the clock to build and nurture an open, fair, just and accountable election process and outcome. The credibility and approvability of election outcomes hinge much on how transparent, and accountable an electoral cycle is managed. Given the high stakes in elections, the temptation to win through all means; illegal or ethically always lurks around. A credible election enables peaceful resolution of conflict, open dialogue, debate, and information sharing amongst all stakeholders. Therefore, it is not just important to reform electoral institutions but also to build stakeholder confidence in electoral processes and results.

Professional practices and accuracy of information throughout the electoral process must be managed. Every effort should be made to handle political party disputes in a clear, open, fair and transparent manner. Decisions and action taken too late into the hour arouse unintended responses. It is necessary to lay the ground work beyond adapting technology by building trust and collegiality on fundamental electoral processes so as to ensure a just and representative election. Though difficult but doable, stakeholder buy-in enables logical trade-offs across essential parameters without compromising the quality of election processes and results.

The product of an election means each vote is countable and verifiable. The integrity of vote counting should not be reduced to mere arithmetic calculations but a believable and replicable exercise whose outcomes influences posterity. Equally, limiting electoral processes and outcomes to legal and political assessment is akin to a tunnel vision. This negates holistic assessment of electoral integrity, creating a reactionary approach to election management. 

The desire for open, fair and just elections remain with generations. Navigating the murky and unpredictable jest of political parties and aspirants is the devil in the detail. When all is said and done, standing for integrity of input, process, and product in an election remains a higher virtue than falling for quick fixes. The choice of an incorruptible elections unto the desired finish line is our divine portion. Never should we drop the baton this time round!