Organizational elections in Kenya benefit from a few key elements: planning, transparency, a digital platform, and a system for feedback.
Organizational and association elections are complex, and there are many things election managers need to keep in mind for them to go well. This article will unpack some of the best practices for organizational elections in Africa and elsewhere.
A well-planned election is necessary for success. Elections are complicated and have many moving parts. The more planning that can be done in advance and structure that can be determined beforehand, the more resilient and effective the process will be.
What will happen before the election? How will voters be registered, and how will they learn about the vote? This aspect of elections involves a lot of information and communication.
Voters need to understand how to participate well before the date of the election. Pre-election planning also involves finding candidates and establishing rules for their participation, including on if they must be nominated.
Running an election means determining how and where candidates can campaign so that members can act accordingly and not be given unfair advantages.
The process of voting should be as clear as possible. Voter participation has been a challenge since elections were invented, and one of the stumbling blocks is complexity.
Make it easy for voters to register to vote, make it clear to them what the consequences of the vote will be, and make the process itself quick and simple. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to move voting online.
Online voting is one of the easiest ways to increase both participation and security in elections.
The easier it is to register and cast a vote, the more likely members of organizations in Kenya and elsewhere are to do it. This can have resounding effects.
As more voters turn out, the results are more likely to reflect the will of the organization. This means voters feel more engaged and respected, and that they’re more likely to vote in the future.
In the digital world, no one has to worry about election tampering or misplaced votes. With state-of-the-art encryption, each member’s vote is private and secure. This can do a lot to increase faith in an election.
Another way to increase faith in elections is with transparency. Voters are more likely to trust their organization and the outcome of their elections when the details of the process are readily accessible. More trust means increased participation and faith in results.
Once the voting is done, there should be more voting. It’s important in effective organizational elections that members are asked how the process went and what could be improved.
Organizations holding elections in Kenya can drastically improve their elections by focusing on a few key areas: planning, transparency, online voting, and feedback. By investing in these aspects, organizations can invest in their members and their future!
Wondering about online voting trends in Africa? Be sure to check out our latest article.
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