National Elections

This study aims to examine and evaluate
the existing qualification standards of the executive
department in the level of national election. It
suggest new inputs and parameters in the conduct of
electoral reforms. Adequate and sufficient
qualification standards is implemented in all areas,
except those mandated under the 1987 Philippine
Constitution, it has been the fundamental
consideration and holding factor to vacancy of
position. This research utilizes descriptive qualitative
methodology with the application of grounded theory
approach. Respondents came from distinguished
citizens of the Philippines directly affected thereby.
Data are collected through lawful and permissible
means. The proper solicitation of informed consent
and the presence of moral and ethical standards are
faithfully complied with. In this light, the legislators
must contemplate the fact that there is truly a need to
revisit the existing qualification standards of the
executive department. Considering to adopt the
proper procedures of the rule of law and observing
the governing rules and regulations mandated by the
fundamental law of the land. The inclusion of
additional and supplemental requirements of
educational attainment, academic excellence and
administrative experience must be considered that
will generously benefit the general public in
attaining effective and efficient political governance.

The recent Philippine elections last 9th of May 2016 became a historic event for the reason that in this age of millennials, factors such as the information dissemination through the internet became one important role during the campaign period. However, the major concern on the citizens’ basic familiarity on the Philippine Constitution is also a necessity that enables the Filipino people to choose their candidates that suits into the basic criteria that is stated in the constitution. In order to address the problem of the possible entry of unqualified officials in any government posts, there are three possible solutions such as by self-assessment of the public servants abilities and moral and ethical foundations, observing meritocracy conducted and supervised by the two mentioned Constitutional Commissions through monitoring, and the Filipinos’ ability to analyze candidates for official government posts through substantial published information in the internet.

This Chapter interrogates the logics and technologies underlying the governance of elections in Africa. It defines elections, their nature and logics. It argues that elections are tools, which integrate electoral processes and systems to deliver on the people's choice of who will govern them. 'Free and fair' presuppose the existence of a 'free and fair' electoral commission, 'free and fair' machineries to run the elections, 'free and fair' systems and procedures for the conduct of those elections. It interrogates the role of stakeholders, before, during and after the elections and argues that elections reflect the independence and sovereignty of any nation. The Chapter presents a 5Vs framework of Volume (how many vote); Velocity (Speed) – the regularity of the elections; Value (the value of the elections as perceived by voters; Veracity (the trustworthiness and authenticity of the systems and outcomes); and Variety (diversity of voters and diversity of political parties). The Chapter argues that the prerequisites to hold free and fair elections include political will from the polity; transparency; a politically educated citizenry capable to act; unity in diversity (there can be many parties and tribes), faith and trust in the electoral systems, political parties and themselves; astute and smart systems and processes and bureaucracy.

If we are to start from the assumption that we wish to understand elections in Africa, then it seems a truism that this understanding can only be achieved if elections are situated within a context.  That this context should be historical, socio-economic and political goes without saying.  The question rather concerns the manner in which this context is analysed and the manner in which elections are situated within it.  In an earlier paper (Neocosmos, 1997) I argued that this context should involve a historical dimension and should stress the importance of an analysis of the form of state. In the BLS countries this latter factor was evidently different in the three countries’ political system and also in the fact that the state ruled the countryside and the town in  different ways.  In this paper I wish to move beyond this view to suggest that elections and the struggles surrounding them must be understood within a political context which stresses not simply the different forms of state, but more broadly, the different forms of politics under which various forms of state can be subsumed.  The reason for this put simply, is because it is important to understand that politics cannot be reduced to the state, and also because there exists in Africa at present, in however limited a form, the indication of a form of politics outside the state.  It is important to understand this. What this simply means is that the often dominant form of politics, usually a state form of politics, is not the only way of conducting political activity and that at different times, to a greater or lesser extent, alternative forms of politics have been and are in evidence.

This paper aims to contribute to the growing body of research on online political marketing by investigating the use of websites as a marketing tool in the 2007 and 2009 general elections in Greece. The
two main research objectives are firstly to establish the key factors affecting voters’ trust when it comes
to using politicians’ websites and secondly to examine whether and to what extent the influence of trustbuilding factors changes over-time, as the online environment matures. The key findings of this research
are that users tend to visit the websites of favoured candidates, which reinforces their positive perceptions of them, while as far as the websites themselves and their content and the services provided are
concerned there is still room for improvement.