Cost of elections 2000 (continued)
Updated November 2006
As noted below, in addition to the direct costs of electoral management, international assistance to political parties is another feature of the cost of democracy in SADC. This donor dependence can seriously undermine the long term sustainability of elections if capital intensive or other inappropriate techniques and materials are introduced into the electoral process. Moreover, the fact that few SADC countries require political parties to disclose the source of private domestic or foreign campaign contributions poses an additional potential threat to the long-term integrity and sustainability of a free and fair multiparty electoral system in countries in the region.
| Country | Election | Total cost | No of voters | Per voter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | 1992 | US$100 million | 4.5 million | US$22 |
| Botswana | 1994 | US$1 million | 0.37 million | US$2.7 |
| Lesotho | 1998 | $6 million | 830 000 | US$6.9 |
| Mauritius | 1995 | Rs 70 million | 715 000 | Rs 100 |
| Malawi | 1994 | US$8 million | 3.8 million | US$2.1 |
| Mozambique[1] | 1994 | $64.5 million | 6.3 million | US$10.2 |
| Namibia[2] | 1994 | N$5 349 840 | - | - |
| 1999 | N$6-7 million | - | - | |
| Seychelles[3] | 1998 | $276,626 | - | - |
| South Africa | 1994 | US$250 million | 22.7 million | US$11.0 |
| Tanzania[4] | 1995 | shillings 38 567 396 767 | - | US$7.88 |
| Australia | 1996 | US$37 million | 11.9 million | US$3.2 |
| Canada | 1997 | US$145 million | 19.6 million | US$6.76 |
[1] The Mozambique government contribution was $5.4 million, a total of 17 countries and international institutions contributed financially or materially towards the electoral process.
[2] Donations from Norwegian, Finnish, German and EU funding and material support. No foreign money may be used to cover election expenses but it can fund voter education and information.
[3] Over $200 000 for the elections themselves, about $8 000 for voter education and $63 000 for voter registration.
[4] An extensive range of foreign donations from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, EU, UK, Japan, Canada, Belgium, and Ireland.
Reference
LOPEZ-PINTON, R 2000 Electoral Management Bodies as Institutions of Governance, Bureau for Development Policy, United Nations Development Programme.