Is COVID-19 threatening electoral democracy in Uganda? Readiness to accept “scientific voting” (electronic voting) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
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Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Regulation and Governance
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to assess the readiness of Ugandans to accept electronic voting
under the restrictive conditions of theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach – A semi-structured questionnaire, built on a five-point-Likert scale
with responses ranging from 1 – strongly disagree to 5 – strongly agree was used to get quantifiable data
from four main electoral stakeholders i.e. the policymakers, urban and semi-urban youth, rural voters and
government officials. These stakeholders were purposively and conveniently selected because of the
influential roles they play in promoting electoral democracy in Uganda. Using a cross-sectional survey
design, the authors adopted correlational and quantitative research designs to collect and analyse data.
Data was collected from a maximum sample size of 384 as recommended by Krejcie and Morgan (1970)
from which 252 useful responses (65.6% response rate) were obtained. Using a statistical package for
social scientists version 21.0, the authors performed a Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the
relationships between study variables and linear regression analysis to predict the readiness of the
stakeholders to accept e-voting more especially under the constraints caused by the COVID-19
pandemic.
Findings – There was a positive significant relationship between perceived usefulness (PU) and attitude
towards adoption, perceived ease of use and attitude towards adoption, attitude and readiness and
finally trust propensity and readiness. The regression results show that 65% of the variations in readiness
to adopt e-voting can be explained by perceived ease of use, PU, trust propensity and attitude towards
adoption. Attitude towards adopting e-voting accounts for the highest variations in the model followed by
trust propensity and finally PU. However, perceived ease of use was found to be insignificant.
Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to only PU, perceived ease of use, trust
propensity, attitudes towards using/adoption and readiness to accept e-voting amidst the COVID-19
strict conditions. In Africa, electoral democracy can be influenced by a number of factors such as
finances, education levels, sectarianism, voter rigging, perceived risk, political and economic
environment. These were not taken into consideration yet they would affect the stakeholders’ attitudes
and perceptions which would directly or indirectly affect the adoption of electronic voting.
Practical implications – Given the low levels of technology infrastructure in the country, there is a
general low uptake of technology-oriented systems. The internet reach is low and quality is poor whilst the
radio and televisions network is limited to a few urban settings, poor quality technology systems such as
the recently acquired voter biometric systems and the constant government actions to switch off the
internet and social media whenever there are contentious political issues. These inadequacies together
with the restrictive COVID-19 conditions have compromised the participation of stakeholders which dents
the stakeholders’ readiness to accept e-voting which consequently compromises electoral democracy in
the country. Therefore, government, electoral observers, the international community and civil society
organizations need to accelerate the technology infrastructure development in the country, training and
development of technical skills and competences, as well asmassmobilization on the use of technologyoriented
platforms aimed at promoting electoral democracy. The country should come up with ICT
policies and regulations that encourage the use of ICT in areas that promote democracy. These mayinclude; the use of an easy e-voting system such as emails and voting via the post office. Also,
Lawmakers, civil society organizations and the international community should make it punitive for
anyone who disenfranchises people through internet disconnection, denial of access to broadcast, print
and online media. These interventions will restore peoples’ attitudes and perceptions towards electronic
voting, consequently increasing their levels of participation in the electioneering process.
Originality/value – The Ministry of Health, the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies have
come out strongly to enforce the COVID-19 standard operating procedures which among others include
the banning of political gatherings, processions and meetings of any kind. As a remedy, the Electoral
Commission is encouraging political parties, electoral candidates, voters and other stakeholders to use
technology-oriented systems such as mobile phones, broadcast and print media, the internet and others
to reach out to the electorate. With the government in full control of all these electronic, print and
broadcast media, having previously switched them off during the 2011 and 2016 polls consequently
disenfranchising many people from their democratic rights, it remains unknown the extent to which the
electorate is ready to accept and appreciate scientific voting more so during this time when restrictions
against COVID-19 are not making it any better for the voters and other key participants to carry out their
political and civil activities.
Description
Keywords
Elections, Perceived usefulness, Readiness, Attitudes
Citation
Ntale, P. D., & Ngoma, M. (2021). Is COVID-19 threatening electoral democracy in Uganda? Readiness to accept “scientific voting”(electronic voting) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, 23(4), 377-397.