The steep political price of vote-buying
If we ever want to see systemic reform, we must at the very least refuse to countenance practices that undermine systemic reform
Published in Daily Tribune on November 4, 2021
by:
The Halalan 2022 drama continues with its latest controversy — vote-buying (and consequently, vote-selling).
On 26 October 2021, the Kasambahay for Leni asked presidential aspirant Leni Robredo to comment on the possible prevalence of vote-buying in the upcoming election. She said it’s wrong and those who engage in vote buying should be arrested. If you are offered though, get the money but vote according to conscience. Expectedly, supporters and critics alike have hit her for this comment. Other presidential aspirants, save for Bongbong Marcos who has not issued a statement on this matter to date, have joined the tirade with Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa calling the act illegal and immoral, Senator Manny Pacquiao saying that it is not an equivalent exchange for six years of hardship, and Senator Panfilo Lacson warning the people of its long term ramifications.
With all the hullabaloo on vote-buying, let me attempt to ground why Lacson said that with vote-buying, it is the people who will suffer “in the long run”. Vote-buying undermines the democratic processes in a number of ways.
First, it perpetuates corruption. A candidate who corrupts voters into voting for him or her by throwing a few bucks to buy votes rather than earn them fairly betrays such candidate’s willingness to resort to illegality. When this candidate sits in power, what guarantees do the constituents have that he will not resort to the same strategy in other areas of governance? There is none. It speaks a great deal of character and how this candidate is likely to handle tasks when they are met with the obligations of public service.
Second, the practice obstructs the constituents’ ability to hold the candidate up to his promises. Vote-buying make it so that it is no longer the candidate’s platform that speaks for him but rather how deep his pockets are. Politicians may delay, or worse not deliver on their promises as they know for a fact that they can just buy your votes in the next elections. This has long standing implications on societal development especially in the delivery of public goods and service which is the very mandate of government and public office.
Third, it cheapens the democratic process and reduces it to a buy and sell transaction. If and when vote-buying becomes the norm, qualified candidates with integrity but who are economically challenged are instantly disadvantaged from the start of the political race. Their inability and unwillingness to buy votes will naturally discourage these aspirants from running for office. How often have we heard that maintaining a national campaign is not cheap? Great political leaders who may come from lower income brackets may no longer aspire for office as it comes with too high a cost.
Although publicly criticized for her comment, many share Leni’s sentiment and regard it as a profitable compromise of integrity for the desire to make money. Those inclined to do as Leni suggests justify the act with the thought they can at least directly benefit from the politician who buys their vote while voting for whoever they want. The challenges to minimizing if not stopping vote-buying practices are true. The only resort we have right now is to document and report the same to the proper authorities which I personally encourage readers to do. However, should we ever want to end this practice, Commission on Elections spokesperson Jimenez is right to say that, as participants to the political process, we must have a higher standard. If we ever want to see systemic reform, we must at the very least refuse to countenance practices that undermine systemic reform.
These are the insidious effects of vote-buying to democracy. It perpetuates corruption and obstructs national development. So, if a candidate offers you money for your vote, I hope you will remember that the value of your vote is much higher than any amount you may be offered for it and I pray you say to yourself that the nation’s future is too high a political price to pay.
