# Lesson Plan: Electoral Malpractices
## Grade Level: Junior Secondary 2
### Subject: Civic Education
### Duration: 60 minutes
### Topic: Electoral Malpractices
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### Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Define electoral malpractices.
2. Identify different types of electoral malpractices.
3. Understand the consequences of electoral malpractices.
4. Suggest ways to prevent electoral malpractices.
### Materials Needed:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector and laptop (if available)
- Printed handouts of key concepts and definitions (optional)
- A short video clip or documentary on electoral malpractices (optional)
### Lesson Procedure:
#### Introduction (10 minutes)
1. **Greeting and Attendance**: Greet the students and take attendance.
2. **Ice Breaker**: Ask students if they have heard of any election issues in news reports or from adults in their community. Gather a few responses.
3. **Objective Discussion**: Briefly outline what the day's lesson will cover and why it is important.
#### Direct Instruction (20 minutes)
1. **Definition**: Define electoral malpractices.
- Example: "Electoral malpractices are illegal actions or unethical behaviors that undermine the fairness, transparency, and integrity of the electoral process."
2. **Types of Electoral Malpractices**:
- **Vote Buying**: Illustrate how political candidates might give money, gifts, or promise favors in exchange for votes.
- **Ballot Stuffing**: Explain how people might illegally add extra ballots to increase votes for a particular candidate.
- **Intimidation**: Discuss how voters might be bullied or threatened to vote in a certain way.
- **Rigging**: Explain how vote counts can be falsified or tampered with.
- **Voter Suppression**: Describe measures taken to discourage or prevent certain groups from voting.
3. **Consequences**: Highlight the social, political, and economic impacts of electoral malpractices.
- **Loss of Trust**: People lose faith in the democratic process.
- **Unfair Representation**: Leads to leaders who may not represent the genuine will of the people.
- **Social Unrest**: Can cause conflicts and instability in the country.
#### Activity (20 minutes)
1. **Group Discussion**: Split students into groups of 4-5. Each group will discuss a type of electoral malpractice and brainstorm ways to prevent it. Provide each group with a specific malpractice type. Give them 10 minutes to discuss and then 5 minutes for each group to present.
- **Vote Buying**: Education about electoral rights, legal punishment for offenders.
- **Ballot Stuffing**: Use of secure and tamper-proof voting technology.
- **Intimidation**: Strong security presence and anonymous voting.
- **Rigging**: Transparent and independent electoral commission.
- **Voter Suppression**: Ensuring equal access to voting resources for all groups.
2. **Presentation and Feedback**: Each group presents their ideas to the class. Encourage questions and discussion from the rest of the students.
#### Conclusion (10 minutes)
1. **Review**: Quickly summarize the key points about electoral malpractices, their types, and consequences.
2. **Questions and Answers**: Allow students to ask any remaining questions.
3. **Homework Assignment**: Ask students to write a short essay (1-2 pages) on the importance of free and fair elections and how they contribute to democracy. Also include ways they think electoral malpractices can be reduced in their country.
4. **Closing**: Thank the students for their participation and remind them of the importance of being informed and active citizens.
### Assessment:
- Group discussion participation and presentation.
- Homework essay to evaluate understanding and personal engagement with the topic.
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This lesson plan aims to engage students with interactive discussions and critical thinking about the issue of electoral malpractices, ensuring they understand its significance and implications.