"Election Fraud"

In this Oil Kingdom there were local elections, i.e., elections for county, municipal, and submunicipal bodies, and even a few “experimental” direct elections for mayor, last month.

In the aftermath of the elections, there were a few controversies over alleged election fraud. According to Norwegian media, there were incidents of “election fraud” in the municipalities of Drammen, Tønsberg, and Askim. In Drammen, NOK 50 was allegedly paid for votes. In Tønsberg, tickets for a ride with a ferry cruise ship to Denmark were allegedly handed out together with ballots where the candidate with this innovative approach was marked for an extra vote. In Askim, kebabs were allegedly offered for votes.

According to Norwegian media, the police have been involved.

Also according to the media, Cabinet Secretary for Municipal and Regional Affairs, Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa, said that electoral fraud in any form is morally dispicable and totally unacceptable.

Reportedly, it turns out that handing out gifts together with ballots is not illegal, whereas explicitly buying votes is. We might see a change to that quite soon though.

When politicians buy votes through promising and giving grants to all sorts of thing for other people's money, however, that's not “election fraud” – that's democracy, our fantastic, wonderful, and benevolent democracy.

On another note, ballots were only folded this year. My ballot was partly opened by an election officer, reportedly not the only incident, making a mockery out of the “right” to secret ballot. Not that I feel very strongly about the electorate being able to go to the polls in total secrecy and total lack of responsibility, but rest assured that there are quite a few who are infuriated.

See the Wikipedia article on the elections.

Elsewhere: Mr. Kai Roer