Money power is an important factor in elections because modern election propaganda devices are expensive. The availability of large sums of money usually increases the number of votes a candidate receives. This money frequently takes the form of black money and is obtained through dubious and illegal means. Since the Model Code of Conduct went into effect, money has been used so openly that seizures of unaccounted cash and other illicit items like liquor and drugs worth more than Rs 36 crores have already occurred, as per CEO Nagaland’s report. These large sums intended to bribe or influence voters are only a small portion of the current illegal spending that has been revealed. A greater portion of the funds must have already been spent without the knowledge of ECI or other regulatory authorities. Politicians have evolved their methods and are many steps ahead of the ECI’s observers and vigilance teams often directing funds to their intended recipients even before the elections are announced. Electoral fraud has taken on new forms in recent years. Voter bribery and manipulation through the media have replaced voter intimidation and booth capturing as the most common unethical methods of influencing voters. Corruption in public life has increased in recent years, with politicians and officials diverting available resources for personal gain. Misappropriation of public funds has destroyed the state’s socio-economic, moral and ethical environment.
In an era of coalition governments at the state and national levels, it is an unavoidable fact that the people’s representatives in the Assemblies and Parliament accept money to support a particular government. Members of Parliament or State Assemblies, as a result, became a marketable commodity, subject to sale and purchase or horse-trading. Allegations have already been made in various constituencies regarding selling off their tickets or withdrawing nominations in exchange for money. As most of the voters in the rural areas are economically weaker and generally not adequately educated, they don’t understand the value of election and sell their vote to the candidate in exchange for money. Money power makes a candidate feel that even if he won’t work for the public still he can win the election by doling out money during election time. The concept of free and fair elections is primarily concerned with political liberty and equality. It implies that no one is enslaved by the electoral process, having his personal rights, social and political liberty, free-thinking and freedom of choice subject to legal discipline. However, it can never be free and fair when the system itself is enslaved by money power. Although the measures taken by ECI to combat the money menace are commendable, such as successfully enforcing the Election Expenditure Monitoring mechanism in elections since the general elections to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 2010, there is still much work to be done.
Legislative reforms, such as a system in which the State bears the election expenditure of political parties contesting elections, are among the needed reforms. Changing the ‘First Past the Post System,’ which declares the winner as the person with the most votes (even if they have only one extra vote) can be considered. Instead, a minimum percentage of total votes cast can be set before declaring a candidate the winner. This could prevent criminals from being elected because not everyone in a constituency votes along party lines. Political parties should be required to be subject to RTI, and spending limits should apply to specific parties rather than individual candidates. More effective technological intervention may be considered. These are some suggested electoral reforms that may be considered.