By Andrew Firmin, Editor-in-Chief of CIVICUS
Elections should offer opportunities for citizens to make demands of their political leaders, debate alternatives and express dissent. People should go to the polls in the belief that their votes will count and their voices will be heard, and if presidents are proved to be corrupt, self-serving and unwilling to listen, they should be able to unseat them. All efforts should go into making the coming elections live up to these standards.
Although a look back at the recent history of Africa’s elections offers limited grounds for optimism, there have been some bright spots.
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