Through
voting, you can choose the candidate who will work on the policies you care
much about.
Voting
helps to instill the policies that effect both the future direction of your
country and your daily life.
Whom to Vote
Vote
for candidate who has plans to solve problems affecting the people.
Vote
a candidate who has plan to provide healthcare, education, infrastructure,
jobs, affordable and quality food, shelter, cloth etc, good economy, security.
You
have the right to campaign and vote for any candidate of your choice.
During
electoral periods, you have certain rights and responsibilities that are
required for free and fair election:
1. You
have the right to support and campaign on behalf of any candidate
2. To vote
freely for any candidate of your choice
3. To
have your vote kept confidential
As a
citizen in democracy, you have the responsibility to be informed.
1. Register
to be able to vote.
2. Make
sure you register before the deadline.
3. Take
time to educate yourself before you go to the poles.
4. Know
the date of the election.
5. Know
the assign polling station.
6. Know
the require documentation you need to go to the polling station to vote.
7. Know
the candidate you are voting for and his party.
Stay
infromed by watching candidate debates, attending political events, and foreign
news about the issues on the candidates on TV, newspaper, or radio. Improvement
on the quality of your life can happen when you are able to exercise sufficient
power to influence your govt.
Voting
is important but the election is one day, the period before and after election
is opportunity to advocate for the issues you care about. Before election, candidates
are willing to learn about the issues of importance to their constituents. During
this period, ask candidate to make a pledge or campaign promises to pursue the
same policy when they get elected. After election, hold your candidate
accountable to fulfill the promises. You can form an advocacy group to remind
them of the promises. Your advocacy group can pressurize the elected candidate
to pass policies that will provide jobs for the unemployed populace in your
community. Your group can also track how the govt spends public funds, to make
sure that they are used for the intended purposes such as healthcare,
education, infrastructure, power, security, good quality of living etc. These activities
could go a long way in fighting corruption in public spending; they also remind
the elected candidates of the constituents concern throughout the term of
office.
How can voters make their choices about
a candidate and issues to support?
You
cannot truly express your political voice unless you are first informed about
your voting choices.
In deciding
whom to vote, you should focus on the
candidate’s idea for the future.
Look
beyond the personality of the
candidate or religion affiliations,
gender, ethnicity, or place
of origin.
Organizing
candidate debate is one way voters can get informed on candidates’ policies
before casting the vote.
As a
voter, focus on the issues, issues based voters educations assists the voter in
making decisions based on a specific problem, that helps to ensure voters focus how the candidate plans to solve the problem,
not the overall ideology. Make sure the candidates are aware of the main concern
and why they are relevant to your life. Know what matters to you and the people,
whether it’s healthcare, education, employment, good road, good water, other
infrastructural amenities, power, etc.
Focusing
on issues helps you understand how voting for a certain candidate or party or
policy can lead the change you want to see. You have invested interest in election
outcomes and you can mobilize your fellow citizens, encourage them to vote, challenge
them to vote base on substantive issues and inspire the sustained engagement in
the political process beyond the Election Day.
Your
vote is your voice.
If you sell your vote, then you
are essentially selling your future. Buying and selling votes, leads to reduced govt accountability,
decreases trust in politics, and increases corruption.
Work
with the members of your communities, to inform the fellow citizens of the
importance of refusing to let anyone buy their votes. Use media, public events
and voter education campaign.
You
can also as candidate in the parties show public commitment to fight corruption
and not buy votes during the election. If people don’t have faith that election
will be free and fair, they may choose not to participate, but if they understand
how their participation strengthens the influence on the issues they care
about, they will be more inclined to cast their vote and stay more politically
engaged.
Your political power lies in your vote. You
can make the difference in your life, lives of your friends, family and in the
life of your country.
Vote
the change you want to see and stay engaged to ensure your voice continue to be
heard long after Election Day.
Contact Olatuja Gabriel via 08067380225
