An election pledge is the amount of money that a candidate for an elected office, such as a seat in the legislature, must pay the electoral body before he or she is allowed to stand for election.
In a typical case, the collected pledge is returned to the campaign participant after the survey, if he receives a certain share of the votes cast. Electoral security is part of any democratic procedure. Its purpose is to reduce the predominance of “minor” candidates or parties without a real opportunity to win a seat. If the participant does not reach the threshold of return, the electoral deposit is canceled.
Australia and Canada
In Australia, a candidate for the Australian House of Representatives must make a deposit of $ 1,000 and a Senate candidate in the amount of $ 2,000. The deposit is refunded if the candidate or group gains at least 4% of the votes of the first preference in the respective constituency. States have other electoral deposit requirements and thresholds for repayment.
In Canada, there is no longer a deposit requirement for federal elections. On October 25, 2017, the judge found that the requirement for the candidate to deposit the electoral deposit was provided for in the election, but in this case violates section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and cannot be justified in accordance with section 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter’s successful call for a deposit was made by self-represented Edmonton Kiran Schuchevich, who failed to meet the 2015 Canadian federal election requirements while trying to run against former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the Calgary constituency.
Hong Kong
Each candidate list for the Hong Kong Legislative Council is subject to a contribution of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars for a geographic constituency and 25,000 Hong Kong dollars for a “functional constituency”. In Russia, a similar system operates. An election pledge in the Russian Federation is lost if the list (or candidate) cannot get at least 3% of the actual votes in the district. For the district council elections, the contribution amount is 3,000 Hong Kong dollars.
India
In the Republic of India, candidates for the lower house of parliament - Lok Sabha - must pay a security deposit of £ 25,000. For elections to the state assembly, the amount is £ 10,000. For candidates according to the schedule of castes and the appointment of tribes, the amount is 12,500 and 5,000, respectively. Any participant who fails to collect more than one sixth of the total number of valid votes cast in the “first by post” voting system will lose both his right to make a deposit and a pledge.
Ireland
In the Republic of Ireland, candidates for Doyle Eren elections nominated by political parties registered to vote in Doyle elections, as well as non-partisan candidates who can provide signatures to 30 voters in the constituency, may not have to pay a fixed deposit. However, participants who do not meet any of these criteria must pay. The amount of the electoral deposit is 500 euros. This follows from the court ruling, which found that the mandatory payment of deposits by all candidates is contrary to the Irish Constitution.
Japan
An election deposit in Japan is the most expensive among countries with such a system. Currently, a candidate for the polling station of the lower or upper house must make a deposit of 3 million yen. He returns if the nominee from the lower house gains one tenth (10%) or more of the total number of valid votes in the constituency, or provided that the campaign participant from the upper house gains one eighth (12.5%) or more from total number of valid votes.
Votes are divided by the number of seats in the constituency. The deposit for the proportional place in both houses is 6 million yen, and the refund will depend on the number of places won by the party. He returns in full if half or more of his candidates won seats.
Local elections, including the election of governors and mayors, also provide for a deposit system ranging from 300,000 to 3 million yen. In elections to city and village councils, candidates are not required to pay a deposit.
The Japanese deposit system, modeled on the British one, was introduced as part of the 1925 General Election Law to prevent frivolous candidates from running simply to advertise or disrupt election campaigns. However, it is sometimes argued that its real purpose is to limit the number of participants and to ensure that those with financial power also have political power.
Hiroshi Kamivaki, a professor specializing in the Constitution at Kobe Gakuin University, claims to be contrary to Section 44 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination against lawmakers on the basis of property and income.
South Korea
In South Korea, candidates for elections to constituencies of the National Assembly must pay a security deposit of 15 million won, which is fully reimbursed if they receive at least 15% of the valid vote. Half of the amount is reimbursed if they receive more than 10%, but less than 15% of the vote. Candidates running for proportional seats must also pay the same amount that can be reimbursed if the represented party wins at least one seat.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, the deposit amount is 10,000 RM to challenge the seat in parliament, and 5,000 RM to challenge it in the state assembly (increased from 5,000 RM and 3,000 respectively in 2004). Since 2004, each candidate has been required to provide an additional security deposit of 5,000 yuan to clear post-election posters. This increase, according to some, led to the fact that the government won a record number of seats without a competition in 2004 (17 seats in parliament).
The deposit is used to pay for violations of the electoral law and is returned after the day of voting if the candidate does not lose or gain more than one-eighth of the votes cast.
New Zealand
In New Zealand Parliament elections, registered parties may submit a list with a deposit of $ 1,000. This deposit is refunded if the party gains 0.5% of the vote. The deposit for the candidate for the electorate is 300 US dollars, which is refunded if the nominee reaches 5%.
Since 1985, a security deposit in the elections to the House of Commons has been £ 500, which must be deposited in cash, by bank check or other legal tender when the candidate submits documents for nomination. He is returned if the participant scored 5% or more valid votes.
Between 1918 and 1985, the cost of the election fee was £ 150 - this equals £ 7,200 by the standards of 2018, taking into account inflation. By 1985, inflation led to a decrease in the value of collateral. The threshold for a candidate’s money back was higher: a victory ⅛ (12.5%) of valid votes.
The election deposit as a certain legal norm and tradition has been criticized by many politicians and public activists, as it prevents small parties from engaging in politics. No deposits are required to pay for candidates running for council elections.
India and Pakistan
In general, the deposit refers to the amount of money paid by the candidate to the election organization body (ECI incase of India), which will be returned after the announcement of the results, if only the participant received more than 1/6 of the total amount.
A deposit is introduced to avoid overcrowding of candidate registration during the election.
Each nominee who wishes to run in the general election is required to pay a deposit amount that differs by country, for example, £ 500 in the UK. 5,000 - in Pakistan, etc. If a candidate gains an equal or more than a certain number of votes (for example, 5% of the total number of registered votes in the constituency), he retains the amount paid as a deposit, but in case of failure he loses funds. In other words, he loses the deposit, the purpose of which is to save the time of the election commission (the organization that organizes the elections, the name may differ depending on the country). This helps to stop frivolous candidates from participating in elections. Sometimes nominees use terms such as “I will make you lose your deposit” to restore the faith of their supporters in them and to tease your opponent. This is a way to show confidence in an obvious victory.
In several electoral systems, candidates must pay a certain amount of money in order to appear on the ballot. This is called a deposit.
If the nominee continues to reach a certain threshold of popular vote (usually low), his deposit will be refunded. However, if this does not happen, the funds are lost.
The idea underlying this system is to dissuade candidates from submitting applications when they know that they have no realistic chance of winning part of the vote.
Thus, "losing your deposit" is a kind of idiom "you bombed in this election."
Common features of the countries of the British system
In the UK general election, a candidate pays a deposit of £ 500 to run for office. If less than 5% of the vote is won, the funds will not be returned.
The election commission says that a pledge of £ 500 submitted to parliament should be canceled in order to be able to nominate a wider circle of candidates.
The election regulator’s report sets out a series of recommendations for updating the rules for nominating candidates for elections, which, he said, are “complicated, outdated, and difficult for candidates.”
He describes the rule according to which participants must make a deposit of £ 500, which they lose if they do not gain 5% of the vote, as unreasonable. “We don’t think that the ability to pay a certain fee is an appropriate or suitable criterion for determining access to the ballot,” the report said.
Upgradeability
Electoral deposit exists in most modern countries, and not only in states with the British legal system.
Chairwoman of the Election Commission Jenny Watson stated that the observer listened to a wide range of opinions and that the recommendations “will make it easier for candidates to run in the future, while maintaining confidence in the system.” The electoral deposit in Russia is also being studied in a consistent manner.
She added: “Some of the changes that we recommend modernizing affect complex areas of electoral law and require legislative changes. The election commission will work with relevant governments across the UK to support them in implementing these changes. ” Thanks to this article, you have learned in which countries electoral deposit is required.