An anti-vote-selling prescription

By James Jimenez

I’m tired of railing against vote-buying. As spokesperson of the Philippines Commission on Elections, I’ve delivered that message in every conceivable way – pleading, cajoling, threatening. And after twenty-odd years of that, I’ve finally accepted that I’ve been barking up the wrong tree.

For as long as people consider their vote a marketable commodity, telling politicians to not buy votes will always be an exercise in futility. Everyone will, of course, condemn the practice and – giving everyone the benefit of the doubt – perhaps even truly not know that it is being done in their name or for their benefit. But the bottom line will remain the same: vote-buying, whether conducted with cash or some other currency, will always be part of a politician’s tool kit.

The solution, insofar as a solution is at all possible, lies with the voters. Instead of raging against vote-buying, we should all redirect our energies towards creating an environment that is inhospitable to vote-selling.

Task Force Kontra Bigay

To its credit, the Commission on Elections created a taskforce to deal precisely with vote-buying. But with all due respect, Task Force Kontra Bigay only streamlines the process of prosecuting vote buying. It is, in other words, more focused on punishing the offense, rather than preventing its commission in the first place.

“Binuo ang Task Force Force Kontra Bigay upang labanan ang vote-buying at vote-selling sa halalan. Ang task force ay binubuo ng PNP at IBP na siyang tutulong sa sinumang nais magsampa ng reklamo na may kaugnayan sa vote-buying o –selling; COMELEC at NBI na siyang mangunguna sa imbestigasyon sa mga rekalamo; at DILG na mangunguna sa information dissemination laban sa iligal na gawain na ito (Task Force Kontra Bigay was formed to fight vote-buying and vote-selling during elections. The task force is composed of the Philippine National Police and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – which shall help anyone who wishes to file a complaint related to vote-buying and vote-selling; the COMELEC and the National Bureau of Investigation, that shall take the lead in the investigation of the complaint; and the DILG, which shall undertake the information dissemination campaign against these illegal activities).”

It’s a good start, and much better for being multi-agency, but ending the epidemic of vote-selling requires a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond streamlining prosecution. There is a need to address both the underlying causes and the social dynamics that sustain this practice.

The Allure

The biggest mistake that anti-vote selling campaigners can make is to assume that it’s all just about money. While the lure of immediate financial reward is strong, it is not the only reason people sell their votes. In many cases, the idea of selling one’s vote becomes acceptable because of the baked-in belief that politicians are corrupt.

Vote-buying  has been so normalized internalized that it is now seen by some people as a sort of demandable ayuda for the poor, and that fighting against it is anti-poor, as I was accused of being, during the run up to the 2022 elections when I spoke out against politicians advising people to “take the money and vote according to your conscience.”

The Fix

To effectively address the problem of vote-selling, the public awareness component of Task Force Kontra Bigay must be boosted, to wake people up about the long-term consequences of vote-selling. As it is, most people are able to see only the “benefits” of selling their vote, without fully comprehending how selling votes undermines democracy, perpetuates corruption, and leads to poor governance. Don’t just tell them not to sell their votes, dear DILG. Also tell them why.  By illustrating the connection between vote-selling and the lack of development or services in their communities, people can begin to see the true cost of this practice beyond the immediate financial gain.

Strengthening the enforcement of laws against vote-buying and vote-selling is also crucial, as reflected in the very creation of Task Force Kontra Bigay to begin with. To be truly effective, however, this part of the strategy must not only to ensure the existence of strong legal frameworks, but also ensure that the laws are actively enforced, rather than having the responsible agencies passively waiting for citizens to file complaints that may never come.

Most citizens would balk at taking legal action out of fear of retribution, the lack of the means to take legal action, or even just the lack of desire to go through all that trouble. Therefore, for solutions like Task Force Kontra Bigay to be maximally effective, transparent and efficient reporting mechanisms should also be established so that citizens can report incidents without fear of retribution or the need to get personally involved.

Additionally, the public must also be shown that prosecution actually results in conviction and tangible consequences like disqualification from holding office in the same electoral cycle, rather than long after the elections are over and the person being sued has already served out his stolen term. This indicates that Tak Force Kontra Bigay might actually benefit from the creation of dedicated Election Courts.

Empower Communities

Addressing the problem also requires providing economic support and opportunities for impoverished communities to reduce the financial desperation that often drives vote-selling. When people have access to stable incomes, education, and social services, they are less likely to be swayed by the short-term benefits offered by vote-buyers. Government programs and civil society initiatives that focus on sustainable development and economic empowerment can help break the cycle of dependency that makes vote-selling attractive.

Community engagement and grassroots movements can also play a significant role in discouraging vote-selling. Local leaders, religious organizations, and civic groups can work hand-in-hand to foster a culture of integrity and active citizenship. Encouraging people to take pride in their right to vote and emphasizing the power of collective action can empower communities to reject vote-selling and demand accountable leadership.

Electoral Reforms

Lastly, promoting electoral reforms that reduce the influence of money in politics can help create a more level playing field. Public financing of campaigns, stricter campaign finance regulations, and more transparent electoral processes can reduce the incentives for vote-buying and increase trust in the electoral system. We tried this before, with the push to reform the political party system, circa 2009. It is perhaps time to dust off those blueprints.

By combining education, legal enforcement, economic empowerment, community engagement, and electoral reform, it is possible to create an environment where vote-selling is seen as unacceptable and counterproductive, leading to more genuine and democratic elections.