In many parts of the world, elections have turned into a desperate game of survival, where voters are forced to trade their votes for basic necessities like food and money. This phenomenon is particularly evident in South Africa and Bulgaria, where economic hardships and political instability have created an environment ripe for vote-buying and electoral manipulation.
In South Africa, the recent elections highlighted the deep-seated issues of poverty and hunger. Many voters, especially in poor communities, are driven by the hope of receiving some form of assistance from the ruling party. As noted by Zibi, a political figure, voters often return the ANC to office despite their own hunger and hopelessness, hoping to get “some crumbs from the loaf of bread” held by those in power. This transactive politics is starkly illustrated in places like Rustenburg, where residents of the Boitekong township have been without water for months due to local government collapse, despite living in an area rich in platinum mining resources.
In Bulgaria, the political landscape is equally fraught. The country is set to hold its seventh general election since April 2021, with no expectation of a stable outcome. The elections are marked by low voter turnout and allegations of vote-buying. Political parties are accused of paying voters to turn out, rather than engaging in meaningful campaign efforts. The rise of far-right parties like Vazrazhdane, which are pushing for anti-LGBT and pro-Russian policies, further complicates the political scenario.
The concept of vote-buying and electoral manipulation is not unique to these countries. In many democratic processes, desperate citizens are forced into a game of survival, trading their votes for immediate needs. This reduces what should be a democratic process into a mere transaction, undermining the integrity of the electoral system. As seen in various contexts, this can lead to long-term political instability and further entrench social and economic inequalities.
