{"id":215752,"date":"2021-01-09T00:04:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T18:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=215752"},"modified":"2021-01-14T20:45:11","modified_gmt":"2021-01-14T15:15:11","slug":"the-franchise-intentions-operation-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/the-franchise-intentions-operation-results\/","title":{"rendered":"The Franchise – Intentions, Operation & Results\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Upatissa Pethiyagoda<\/a> –<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dr. Upatissa Pethiyagoda<\/p><\/div>\n

The franchise (suffrage) is an entrenched right in our Constitution. Sri Lanka was the first country in Asia to grant Universal Adult Suffrage (or franchise). Many countries imposed restrictions, in particular excluding females. This led to the \u201cSuffragettes\u201d movement in Europe, demanding that women too should have the Vote.<\/span><\/p>\n

Historically, the concept of representation must have originated and evolved through centuries, in line with the complexities of governance and the growth of population, when it became impractical for all to interact directly. It then finds some means of representation. The obvious method of choice was universal suffrage. Some modification was necessary by way of some further groupings, dividing the total electorate into geographical regions or into manageable units as wards, electorates or \u201cElectoral colleges\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

A noteworthy feature is the care taken to ensure the secrecy of the balloting process. Elaborate measures are adopted to ensure \u201csecrecy\u201d, up to even our providing \u201cbooths\u201d with cardboard partitions. <\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the ballot paper is so designed as to prevent the true exercise of a \u201cfree will.\u201d It\u00a0 <\/span>requires the voter to first pick the Party of his choice. He thereby, in effect partially or critically, disenfranchises himself. Once committed in this fashion, he is restricted to the persons who have been selected by the Party Leadership. It will take time for the voter to vote out any Party for making wrong choices for nomination. Until then, he is compelled to pick not the best available who may belong to a different party, but in effect to choose the \u201cleast worst\u201d in his party candidates list. So, choice of Party is a crucial judgment. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the existing circumstances, it is quite unfair to \u201cblame\u201d the electors, when the choice has been by the Party Leadership, not infrequently on criteria that are less than honourable, and far removed from much desire for quality and diversity. Suppose, one finds that the best candidate belongs to a party different from his choice at Step One on the ballot paper? Bad luck, \u201cfree choice\u201d has flown out of the window! Is this by accident or by design? It is a wonder that this confusing or contorted system does not result in a larger number of spoilt votes than what it is!<\/span><\/p>\n

An even more mysterious element is the jettisoning of the virtue of confidentiality, when it comes to the crucial finale of the vote in the House, for example on the all-important Annual Budget. The open display of how the voting went (including by a hideously expensive electronic marvel), may perhaps help in exposing those who have been bribed or offered places in the hierarchy, yet chose to exercise some semblance of \u201ca Conscience\u201d. If the voting is to be merely on Party dictates, why bother about the pantomime of \u201cdebates\u201d at horrendous cost? Or of \u201cqualified\u201d candidates, when all that is required is an uplifted hand or a pressed button. Was Tarzie Vittachi right when he declared that \u201ccommunication without transformation, is gossip\u201d? At the conclusion of a somewhat \u201csoporific\u201d Budget speech, a \u201cTea Party\u201d and a further repast at the end of a usually drab \u201cBudget Debate\u201d, complete the circus. One may believe that a \u201csecret ballot\u201d would be most important in ensuring that the vote reflects the true free will of the people, through their elected representatives and who, having attended and\u00a0 <\/span>followed the debates can make an informed choice. Not so, we are told, but draws on the traditions and conventions of the British House of Commons, where it is apparently permitted only in the election of the Speaker.(who ironically speaks least!) If so, are these not oddities that ask for abandonment or correction? We did get Independence seventy two years ago, did we not? <\/span><\/p>\n

I believe that the argument that it follows convention or tradition elsewhere is feeble. As long as the idea of the \u201cParty Whip\u201d remains, so also will a skewed and purposeless exercise continue. A \u201cconscience vote\u201d it would seem, is at best an irrelevant abstraction.<\/span><\/p>\n

It defies logic that confidentiality is zealously guarded at the periphery of a system while abandoning it on the way to a decisive centre! Maybe, it is a vain search to seek logic as a defining quality of politics!.<\/span><\/p>\n

On a broader basis, are our citizens really ready for \u201cuniversal franchise?\u201d I think they are not. Is a Party system really meaningful? Again I think not. I believe that in both instances, the Average voter goes according to a \u201cPersonality Bias\u201d. The voter\u2019s choice of both Party and Candidate, revolves around persons rather than a measured evaluation of what they stand for. In fact, both criteria are \u201cwoolly.\u201d Let us face it \u2013 competence, merit, integrity, education, performance records and vision do not drive voter\u2019s choices. \u201cKepuwath Kola\/Rathu\/Nil\u201d, about sums up the lack of any objectivity or judgment \u2013 mere sentiment, person\u00a0 <\/span>or habit inspires the vote. The pithy \u201cUnuth Ekai, Munuth Ekai\u201d just about sums up the lack of sensitivity or objectivity in the electoral process. Are we really ready for universal franchise or does the \u201cCahoot Theory\u201d go beyond all else?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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