Local elections

1
Local elections
2
Change?

• Slow process to involve the people of China
• since 1980s directly elected villager committees
  set up
• (VCs) are the lowest level of civil
  administration in China

3
Local elections

• The villagers are taught their rights and
  responsibilities under the VC Law
• They are entitled to vote leaders and vote them
  out of office

4
What do the committees do?

• They are elected by village residents to help
  maintain public order, and convey residents'
  requests and opinions to the people's government

5
What do the committees do?

• Typical VC work might include raising funds for
  and constructing a schoolhouse, installing cable
  TV in the village, or persuading the neighbouring
  village to help build a better road

6
How are the candidates chosen?

• the CP decides on candidates who are then
  presented for approval or disapproval by a public
  show of hands at a mass meeting.

7
How are the candidates chosen?

• the following rules are applied
• Open, direct nominations by individuals rather
  than groups
• Multiple candidates
• Secret ballots
• A public count of the votes
• Immediate announcement of election results

8
Local Elections

• the same villagers who elect their village
  leaders also vote every three years for their
  representative or deputy to the township people's
  congress

9
Restrictions
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4319
954.stm

• the elections are highly restricted, dominated by
  the Communist Party and generally limited to a
  few participants.
• For example, in one community of more than 6,000
  people only 123 were allowed to vote in the first
  election.

10
The future

• These developments are part of a series of
  broader reforms
• including permitting Chinese citizens to sue
  government agencies more competitive recruitment
  of government and Party officials
• the setting up of hotlines to report corruption
• greater participation in the legislative process

11
The future

• Chinas communists do allow opposition parties to
  stand in election
• They are just not allowed to stand in meaningful
  elections
• The communists believe they have a special role
  in leading the country to full communism

12
The future

• many independent village leaders were elected
  however the CCP has given officials control over
  them rendering the elections futile
• This has caused resentment

13
The future

• The Party has not wavered from its firm stand
  that China will not move to a Western-style,
  multiparty political system.