 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Jun 2010 : 02:22:24
|
The introduction of the IEC as a governing body for elections in the Gambia was a major and significant achievement/development by the APRC regime and the total independence and democratization of the IEC is not only a necessity but a need. The fact is recognizing the diaspora and the role they play in rapidly expanding the economy of the country cannot be overlooked and nothing can over shadow the help extended or the roles the diasporan plays in growing and developing our country. The growing number of Gambian migrants overseas should be reason enough for the IEC to reform and extended some sort of Absentee voter program to all Gambian citizens at their respective Embassies Overseas.
I know most are wondering why the Embassies but there is not a more suitable venue. These elections could be monitored within a month prior to the elections and all voters within that jurisdiction have the option of either personally casting their votes, mailing or submitting it online. This process can be monitored by representatives of all parties and all government stake holders to ensure the process is free and fair.
Several countries including as of recently Senegal have enacted and totally reformed their electoral Process to cater for it's developmental needs and including all stakeholders. Every Gambian needs to be able to have some sort of access, to cast their votes in determining the future of our country. It is not about the idea of misrepresentation but the man who implements sustainable development and programs meant to foster democracy is always seen as the winner when history is written regardless of the misconceptions.
The introduction of the IEC was a step in the right direction but every institution needs to be reformed as time changes to foster a more democratic system. Why should the diaspora be given a chance to vote ,well I think, not only the financial aspects of it but every Gambian who ventures overseas will eventually go back home except my Uncles who lived in Sweden for 50 years and never went back, but those are isolated incidents, yet there can be some kind of regulation. All am driving to is that every stakeholder and responsible citizen has one voice and that voice is the ability to choose and determine what their future is and that chance and opportunity should not be refused due to technicalities or difficulties.
With technology and every Voter card being different in Gambia. The IEC can implement some sort of Absentee voter program whether online or Mail in, to our respective Embassies. Most Gambians nowadays are working overseas due to the unlimited opportunities readily available yet these professionals and hustlers overseas have no voice in determining what the future of their nation is and as of recently the QATAR labor agreement which allows Gambian workers to reside and work in Qatar will also be victims of Absenteeism. With the changing times and about, this is just a wild estimate or guess I may say, at least 500,000 to 600,000 Gambians are living Abroad and should be given a chance and a voice to determine the future of their countries.
In America being absent does not mean you cannot vote and several states allow their citizens to vote by mail. With the developing times and technology their is no reason to sideline the diaspora. The tools to ensure we live in a free world is readily available and Democracy means adopting and giving change a chance, a government of the people by the people and for the people will not sideline individual stakeholders due to demo-graphs or reasons unknown. Voting is not a privilege, it is a right for all Gambians eligible.
Being unable to to get to your polling place location on Election Day should not stop stakeholders from voting and as much as all elections in Gambia are blamed on voter Apathy and lack of means of transportation to polling stations I think Gambia has to introduce some sort of optional voter program which will enable the sick ,Diasporan and the disabled to cast their votes on Elections day.
Every Gambian stakeholder should be able to exercise his or her political rights within the country, but included should be additional requirements related to the situation of the potential voter abroad, It is a situation that needs to be addressed and the role of the Diasporan can never be overshadowed. The question is how are Gambian Ambassadors, Diplomats ,Students, people who are down due to Illness or disability, Judges or other diaporan's participating in the election process?
The IEC needs to reform and provide alternative methods of voting for Citizens and this could include either mailing the votes directly to the IEC or to our local Embassies. The fact is Any registered voter will be able to vote using a vote-by-mail ballot instead of going to the polls on Election Day. As a matter of fact with the low voter turnouts, Gambians need to be given the choice of either voting at the polling stations or registering as a permanent vote-by-mail voters. This just might help in involving more participation in our voting process.......................................Peace
http://ksuweb.kennesaw.edu/~rvengrof/pubs/pub-senegal-voting-from-abroad.pdf
http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/va/comparative-review/persons-eligible-to-vote-from-abroad
|
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
Edited by - Moe on 20 Jun 2010 00:43:21 |
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 00:59:53
|
| Moe, when the pay package matures for your capable agency, don't forget to share out. You are doing good enough job. I am impressed and marvelled. |
Karamba |
 |
|
|
terangba
Egypt
225 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 01:08:06
|
| Moe allowing the Diaspora to participate in the electoral process is an excellent idea but this idea will never be implemented by the current administration because the majority of the Diaspora is anti APRC. Giving the Diaspora a voice will mean more votes for the opposition. I do not think APRC government will support this idea. |
God gave men dominion over the beasts and not over his fellow men unless they submit of their own free will. - Napoleon |
|
|
|
Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 01:34:47
|
| Thats what you are assuming Terangba, Spain has a bigger chapter representing the APRC and other communities are more likely gonna vote APRC. The U.S Gambians are a bunch of useless opportunist if you ask me. They are all busy looking for Fame and fortune, the least of their worries is organizing. Including the diaspora in National elections is not a matter of who it's gonna benefit ,the fact is there is a need for it that cannot be over emphasized........................................Peace |
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
Edited by - Moe on 20 Jun 2010 07:38:39 |
|
|
|
Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 01:37:13
|
| That was dedicated to you Karamba, It's my pleasure...................................Peace |
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
|
|
turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 02:49:24
|
quote:
To vote directly on the homepage of IEC not just for the convenience but to also minimize cost would be a good solution.
Problem with that though, identification. It may be very costly. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
|
|
|
Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 04:12:56
|
| You are absolutely right about that Janko, and I think as brilliant as you are we should separate the topics as relevant as it is. I see a bigger problem emerging from foreign donors and organizations based overseas.The fact is the government has to subsidize some kind of funds for any legally registered party participating in any elections to avoid unscrupulous donors remote controlling our governments.....................................................Peace |
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
|
|
|
Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 04:16:56
|
I think with the unique tin numbers which every employed Gambian should have is equivalent to a social security number in America should suffice and associating each voter card with a tin number, Voters registration and date of birth should suffice .It is a program that can easily be authored and audited...................................................Peacequote:
Originally posted by turk
quote:
To vote directly on the homepage of IEC not just for the convenience but to also minimize cost would be a good solution.
Problem with that though, identification. It may be very costly.
|
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 12:13:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by Moe
...we should separate the topics as relevant as it is.
Rightly, I could not resist mentioning it here.
quote:
I think with the unique tin numbers which every employed Gambian should have is equivalent to a social security number in America should suffice and associating each voter card with a tin number, Voters registration and date of birth should suffice .It is a program that can easily be authored and audited
Pass port number, is also unique for personal identification. Finding the best solution, is the question. I think the more directly it is to IEC the less complication.
turk, do you have any technical solution in mind? |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
|
|
|
turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 12:41:32
|
I would have a technical solution but knowing the realities of the Gambia, it is difficult. The government of Gambia has very limited infrastructure/IT resources for possible online voting. The government is still struggling to put web presence together, not even interactive online application, it is quite difficult for transactional online presence for the government based on the limited resources they have.
|
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
|
|
|
turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 14:12:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by Moe
I think with the unique tin numbers which every employed Gambian should have is equivalent to a social security number in America should suffice and associating each voter card with a tin number, Voters registration and date of birth should suffice .It is a program that can easily be authored and audited...................................................Peace
lol. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 20 Jun 2010 14:12:37 |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 15:22:54
|
Moe, these are interesting proposals for the IEC.
Although the tin numbering and the new biometric systems are long over due, we still have some pending issues. We need to have unique numbering of streets in the urban areas and some sort of compound numbering in villages in order to correctly identify individuals. I don’t know if it is part of the local government reform but correct mapping is also long overdue. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 15:50:09
|
turk,
as you can see, it is a discussion about possible solutions. My question is not why it is impossible, but finding possible solutions. Do you only want to talk about the problem and not the solution ... or? |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
|
|
|
turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 16:11:40
|
Janko
Oh I did not know you, seriously, want us to discuss about very complex technical solution in a forum. First, I have never said it impossible. There could be possible solutions which depends on the requirements, realities, infrastructure. Also, I talk about the problems, so that when problems are identified, you find solutions for the problems. For different problems, there are different solutions. Gambia is so far away from something like online voting, even many developed countries with the infrastructure staying away from online voting. One major problem is the technology to develop a system does not exist in Gambia. For example, the first problem was 'identification'. Are there any database for the passport numbers stored? Where do we get the passport numbers? What if I tell someone my passport number in USA and this person vote for me online (assuming there is IP check for the voting to determine the location of the voters). At the same time I am in Gambia and vote? What is the mechanism to check double voting. And when I vote online, I do not know my identity and my vote to be known to government. Who is going to develop such application? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2010 : 16:28:10
|
Thanks, turk
is there any other way to do it; any ideas |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
