Show election - Citizendia

Elections

Part of the Politics series

Terminology:
Allotment By-election Electoral fraud Show election Fixed-term election General election Primary election Indirect election Local election Referendum
Apportionment Crossover voting Gerrymandering Redistricting Secret ballot Suffrage
Subseries of Elections:
Political Party Voting Voting systems
Relevant lists:
Elections by country Results by country Electoral calendar

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A show election or a sham election is an election that is held purely for show, that is, without any significant political purpose. An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions Sortition, also known as allotment, is an equal-chance method of selection by some form of lottery such as drawing coloured pebbles from a bag A by-election or bye-election (called special election in the United States) is an Election held to fill a political office that has become vacant Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an Election. A Fixed-term election is an Election that occurs on a set date and cannot be changed by the incumbent politician A general election is an Election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election A primary election ( nominating primary) also referred to simply as a primary, is an election in which voters in a Jurisdiction select candidates Indirect election is a process in which voters in an Election do not actually choose between candidates for an office but rather elect persons who will then make the choice Local Elections vary widely across Jurisdictions In Electoral systems that roughly follow the Westminster model, a terminology has evolved A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita Apportionment is the process of allocating political power among a set of principles (or defined constituencies In multiple-party democratic primary elections crossover voting refers to a technique used by voters in which ballots are cast for the party a voter is opposed to in order to elect Gerrymandering is a form of redistribution in which electoral district or Constituency boundaries are manipulated for electoral advantage Redistricting, a form of redistribution, is the process of changing of political Borders in the United States The secret ballot is a voting method in which a Voter 's choices are confidential Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral A voting system allows voters to choose between options often in an Election where candidates are selected for public office. Elections by country gives information on Elections For each De jure and De facto sovereign state and dependent territory The list of election results by country gives information on Elections For each De jure and De facto sovereign state and An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office Show elections are a common event in dictatorial regimes that still feel the need to establish some element of public legitimacy (China being the most modern example). A dictator is an Authoritarian ruler (eg Absolutist or autocratic) who assumes sole and absolute power without hereditary ascension such as an Absolute China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Results predictably show that nearly 100% of all eligible voters vote and that nearly 100% of those eligible voters vote for the prescribed (often only) list of candidates for office or for referendums that favor the Party in power irrespective of economic conditions and the cruelties of the government.

Ballots in a show election may also be in the form of a simple "yes or no" question on the ruler's leadership. A predetermined conclusion is always established by the regime, either through coercion of voters, vote rigging, or just making up an arbitrary number of "votes received". Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an Election. Some dictatorships ensure results by suppressing opposition or maintaining a token opposition that is never allowed to become a viable political force.

There have been cases in which rulers have claimed a mandate which exceeded the actual population of their nation, e. g. Charles D. B. King of Liberia. Charles Dunbar Burgess King (1875 - 1961 was a politician in Liberia of Freetown Creole descent (both of King's parents were ethnic Krios) Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire

In some cases, show elections can backfire disastrously against the party in power, especially if the dictator actually believes himself or herself to be popular enough to win without coercion or fraud.

See also