Elections are the cornerstone of any representative democratic system, allowing citizens to choose their leaders and hold them accountable. However, history is replete with instances where this sacred process has been marred by fraud and corruption. Sri Lanka, too, has had its share of questionable elections, with the 1982 referendum and the 1999 North West Provincial Council election standing out as some of the most corrupt in the nation’s history. Yet, these pale in comparison to some of the most corrupt elections ever recorded worldwide. Below are three of the most notorious examples.
3. The 1961 Haiti Referendum
Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the Caribbean, has a long history of corrupt leadership. François Duvalier, known as “Papa Doc,” is one of the most infamous rulers in Haitian history. First elected as President in 1957, Duvalier quickly consolidated power, expelling opposition supporters and altering the constitution to extend his presidency.
In a bid to retain power, Duvalier called for a referendum on April 30, 1961, to allow him to remain president for another six years. The results were shockingly unanimous, with 100% of the 1,320,748 votes in favor of Duvalier—a result that defied the very nature of democratic elections. Reports of widespread violence and intimidation against opposition supporters during the election period confirmed the fraudulent nature of this referendum, earning it a place in the annals of corrupt electoral history.
2. The 1955 South Vietnamese Referendum
In 1955, South Vietnam was ruled by Emperor Bao Dai, with No Ding Dim serving as Prime Minister. Amid growing unrest and terror spread by the Binh Xuyen military force, Prime Minister Dim sought to overthrow Bao Dai and consolidate his power. A referendum was held on October 23, 1955, to choose between Bao Dai and Dim for the presidency.
Dim, a power-hungry leader, ensured his victory through violence and intimidation. Voters who supported Dim were given red ballots, while those for Bao Dai received green ones—a clear method of identifying and coercing opposition voters. The result was predictably skewed, with Dim reportedly receiving more votes than the total number of registered voters. In Saigon alone, Dim’s votes exceeded the registered voter count by a staggering margin, highlighting the extent of the electoral fraud. This referendum remains one of the most corrupt in history, as documented by reports from the US State Department and the University of Rhode Island.
1. The 1927 Liberian Presidential Election
Liberia, a West African nation, has experienced significant political turmoil, with one of the darkest chapters occurring during the presidency of Charles King. First elected in 1920, King won a second term in 1923 amidst widespread corruption. However, it was the 1927 election that cemented his place in history.
Facing off against Thomas Faulkner, King resorted to extreme electoral fraud to secure his victory. Although there were only 15,000 registered voters in Liberia, King won the election with a staggering 240,000 votes, while his opponent received just 9,000. The scale of this fraud earned the 1927 Liberian presidential election the title of the most corrupt election in history, as confirmed by former Liberian Chief Justice Frances Johnson Morris.
These examples, along with Sri Lanka’s own experiences with corrupt elections, serve as sobering reminders of the lengths to which some leaders will go to retain power. As we look to the future, it is essential to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process to ensure that democracy can truly thrive.
Source : Roar