Playing marbles: the Gambia's electoral system.

During the 2006 presidential elections held on, citizens of the Republic of The Gambia cast their votes by dropping a marble into a metal drum representing the candidate of their choice. Compared to ultramodern voting techniques involving text messaging and touch screens that are being developed in the United States and the United Kingdom, The Gambia's method appears antiquated, but makes voting possible for many of the country's illiterate citizens. This method, however, is not a panacea to increase participation and interest in domestic political affairs. As demonstrated by the behavior of the incumbent party in The Gambia, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), increased suffrage may not necessarily increase democracy but may only serve to extend the control of an incumbent government.

The Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission has placed great faith in the marble voting method as a fair and effective means of expanding suffrage to the illiterate. The system does indeed appear to have tangible benefits. Voter turnout increased because the new voting procedures made it easier for illiterate citizens to vote. In the most recent Gambian election, for example, there was a metal drum for each candidate, painted in the color of the candidate's party and bearing a photo of the candidate, the name of the candidate, and the symbol of the candidate's party. All citizens can cast their votes because voting in the Gambian system does not involve reading or writing. This increase in suffrage may lead to citizens receiving better representation in their governments.

The benefits of the Gambian voting mechanism, however, do not eclipse its potential disadvantages. There are several dangers with these procedures, one being that people may make uninformed judgments due to their lack of education. Indeed, while helping illiterate citizens exercise their political rights is a well-intentioned idea, their illiteracy increases their risk of being manipulated by political parties, trade unions, and large corporations. Moreover, the votes of the newly enfranchised may only further entrench the incumbent party. In The Gambia, the expansion of suffrage is very much in the interest of the APRC and President Yahya Jammeh. By making it possible for more people to vote while ensuring that the new voters are loyal through the control of public information, the new voting method creates the illusion that an even greater majority of the country supports Jammeh and strengthens the false perception that the people's views and needs are being taken into account.

That the Gambian government is unfairly benefiting from the electorate expansion is a result of Jammeh's control of the news media and opposition groups. Despite an otherwise good report card since 1997, the Gambian government has recently tried to stifle journalism and the independent press. The government controls what the newspapers print and threatens reporters who portray it in an unflattering manner. Radio stations and newspapers are subjected to heavy license fees, and reporters and journalists operate under the threat of jail sentences for alleged cases of libel or sedition. The government also operates Radio Gambia, which dominates radio waves. These actions result in misinformed voters with a distorted understanding of the candidates.

Moreover, The Gambia still does not allow citizens living abroad to vote; these votes are essential as only Gambian citizens outside of the country have access to uncensored, objective news sources. In effect, Jammeh and the APRC exercise control over how the public is informed, and thus, over how the public will vote, whether the voters are illiterate or not. Expanding voting opportunities to illiterate voters in The Gambia only increases the likelihood that Jammeh will win elections because much of the public will believe the information that filters down to them.

Simply making voting easier and more widely available is not enough to improve the lives of Gambians and to make the country a true democracy. To ensure greater international credibility, Jammeh and the APRC must allow greater freedom of the press in both printed news and radio stations. Public and academic debate about current government policies should be allowed to flourish without fear of retribution. The free flow of information would help citizens of The Gambia progress from simply voting to voting intelligently. With these changes, the Gambian government will move beyond merely expanding suffrage with marbles and colored drums. Instead, it will be closer to holding truly democratic elections with an expansive electorate. At present, it remains to be seen if Jammeh and the APRC will give The Gambia and its people this chance.

staff writer

RYAN RILEY