Vote buying, which is also called electoral clientelism or money-for-votes, refers to the practice where political actors offer money, goods, services, or benefits to voters in an election. The payment may be direct (cash) or indirect (food, transport, goods) which is intended to influence voting behavior. This tends to undermine autonomy of voters and compromises electoral integrity. Vote buying is as a result of several factors such as poverty and economic inequality to weak institutions and law enforcement, patron-client political culture, low political awareness or trust, and cycle of corruption. The practice can be clandestine or public, depending on the legal risks and local political norms. Combatting vote buying would involve legal sanctions, electoral monitoring, civic education, campaign finance regulation, and institutional strengthening. The paper understudies the immediate/remote causes, the effects of vote buying, and how it tends to undermine democracy as well as sustainable development.
Vote buying, political actors, politicians, voters, voting behavior, law enforcement, cycle of corruption, poverty, weak institutions, civic education, secret ballots.
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