Articles
Some Challenges in the Villagers’ Election System
The Villagers’ Election System is a great mark in Chinese democratic process. However, it has been implemented for only a few years and there are some problems that deserve notice.
On 1st June 1998, the Organic Law of Villagers’ Committees started to be tried out nationwide. According to this law, villagers can elect director, deputy director and members of a villagers’ committee directly. The Villagers’ Election System is a great mark in Chinese democratic process. However, it has been implemented for only a few years and there are some problems that deserve notice. Firstly, somebody violates the voting procedure. During the elections, there are unregulated and illegal actions. For example, the voting procedure doesn’t proceed according to the law. Secondly, somebody break the election. They disturb the villagers in illegal way. For example, they replace or nominate the candidates. They revenge those villagers who denounce the illegal actions. Thirdly, someone bribe the voters for their ballots. Bribe is common in election, and some competitors even distribute money or goods before the voting box. Fourthly, someone make commitment in the election. In some area, during the villagers’ committee election, some candidates promise to do something illegal such as canceling the Planned Parenthood. Fifthly, someone get together as a party and the election turns out to be conflict among different parties. With the development of rural economy, some elites emerge. They are either successful businessman or leader of their clan. Because the candidates are nominated by the villagers, they will use their relationship net to disturb the election. Sixthly, it’s hard to decide who can be voters. With the progress of rural urbanization and the construction of small town, fluid population increased and the identity of the dwellers is complicated. Without vote qualification, the dwellers are not interested in county construction.
However, it is well known that noting is perfect and so, regarding the village election system, the raised problems could have some solutions, as following suggested: Most important, the legal system construction should be strengthened. Those who break the law should be punished seriously. What’s more, the villagers should be educated to set up collective notion and to get rid of clanship notion. Let them know that, for the sake of the whole villagers’ benefits, only the upright and capable person can be selected. With these measures taken, villagers would have correct view of election and the system would be improved step by step.
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