Types of Electoral Corruption
Types of Electoral Corruption Electoral corruption encompasses practices that undermine the integrity of elections by manipulating processes, voters, or outcomes for personal or partisan gain. It can occur at various stages: pre-election (e.g., voter registration, campaign financing), during voting, or post-election (e.g., counting and results announcement). Major classifications include: Vote Buying and Clientelism Direct or indirect exchange of material benefits for votes. Direct vote buying: Cash, food, goods, or services given shortly before or on election day in exchange for a vote (e.g., money or gifts distributed in Argentina, Kenya, or India). Clientelism/patronage: Ongoing relationships where politicians provide jobs, public services, or favors in return for loyalty (e.g., public sector jobs or targeted welfare in exchange for support). Related: Sponsoring tournaments, distributing material goods (clothes, food parcels), or charitable acts timed for elections to gain popularit...