A Impact Analysis of Digitalized Voting System on Voting Behavior and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria
Issue: Vol.4 No.14 Special Issue Article 1 pp.3-15
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20234142 | Published online 20th December, 2023
© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Election results in most African countries are hardly transmitted using digitalized devices. This has created room for suspicion and discrediting of electoral integrity in part of Africa. Citizens’ suspicion of the electoral process has not only made many African voters believe that votes hardly count, but it has significantly provoked tendencies of political apathy and indifference during elections in some African countries. Political apathy and indifference are partly responsible for the recruitment of mediocre persons to elective political offices, which in the long run, amount to bad governance. While the occupation of elective public offices by mediocre persons is antithetical to democratic consolidation, Africa’s electoral integrity largely depends on, and can only be sustained if election results are digitalized or transmitted in real time electronically. Although studies have extensively examined and identified factors such as competency, integrity, proven track records, vision, ideology, manifesto, and inducements, among others, as factors influencing voting choice or behavior, evidence is very little on how a digitalized transmission of election results, impacts on voting behavior and consolidates Africa’s democracy, using the elite theory. This article thus expanded knowledge on how a digitalized voting method influences voters’ decisions or choices using the qualitative method. Results indicated that a digitalized voting system could enhance vote count, public trust in election results, and the deepening of democracy in Africa. It concluded that a digitalized voting system has the potential to increase citizens trust in the electioneering process in Nigeria. This is a contribution to the general body of knowledge in e-voting and election administration.
Keywords: Behavior, Consolidation Democracy, Digitalize, Voting System
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Agunyai Samuel Chukwudi is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Political Studies & International Relations, North West University, Mafikeng South Africa. He teaches political science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. His primary areas of research interests include African politics and government, food security, human security, political theory, migration studies, and governance in comparative sub-Saharan Africa contexts. Specifically, he specializes on African governance and development as well as leadership question in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Victor Ojakorotu is a scholar of International relations and an astute professor at North West University, South Africa. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. A First Class Honours graduate (BSc) from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in International Relations and an MSc. Degree in the same school. He has actively worked at various capacities as an academic of repute in the last 28 years, specifically he worked for Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and Monash University, Johannesburg. Currently, he holds a position as Deputy Director, School of Government Studies, North West University, Mafikeng – South Africa and recently appointed as an Honorary Professor at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) South Africa. His research interests span across several areas which are not limited to peace and conflict issues, social movements, environmentalism, peace advocacy and inter-ethnic harmony in local communities in Africa.
Ayodeji Folusho is a senior lecturer with the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos. His expertise covers Industrial/Organisational Psychology, and Social Psychology. Over the years, Dr. Ayodeji has conducted several research works on managers’ performance and other work outcomes, work-life balance and deviant behaviours in organisations. He has publications in reputable national and international journals.
Agunyai,Samuel Chukwudi, Ojakorotu, Victor & Folusho, Ayodeji. “An Impact Analysis of Digitalized Voting System on Voting Behavior and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 4, no.14 Special Issue (2023): 3-15. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20234142
© 2023 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).