Vote buying in Colombia: How does the ghost dress and what are its implications?
Abstract
Although vote buying is a common practice in Colombian elections, there is little research that explores how networks operate and what their effects are on democratic institutions and the well-being of the population. This paper describes the operation of a vote buying network, based on a highly relevant case study occurred in Colombia, and discuss some of the implications of this practice. I argue that vote buying not only constitutes two electoral crimes, but impacts on political representation, elections, and deepens social inequalities. The case shows that vote buying affects especially the poorest, they are, paradoxically, the most likely to participate in a transaction.
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