Highlight the conditions necessary for a free and fair election.  

Explanation

Conditions necessary for a free and fair elections include:

(I) Security: The security in place must be adequate to cover electoral officials, voters, as well as the materials needed for elections.

(ii) Electoral Commission: There is the need to have an independent electoral commission capable of handling all elections, without external influence.

(iii) Registration of Voters: Voters should be duly registered with voters cards issued to them. Also there is the need for a periodic revision of voters’ register.

(iv) Electoral Officials: There is the need for the training of the people employed as electoral officials. Impartiality should be their watchword in their official assignment.

(v) Secret Voting: Voting at elections should be secret. Secret voting has a universal acknowledgement more than the public voting.

(vi) Judiciary: The judiciary should be independent and impartial. It should work without fear or favour.

(vii) Delimitation of constituencies: There should be proper delimitation of constituencies to pave way for effective administration of elections.

(viii) Campaign: All the registered political parties should be given a free hand to carry out their campaign programmes without any hindrance.

(ix) Election tribunal/Courts: Individuals or parties not satisfied with the outcome of the election results are free to go to court and contest it.