Moroccan NGO encourages citizens to vote freely but responsibly

11/06/2007

The Afak Community Involvement and Development Association launched a campaign to educate citizens about the benefits of elections.

By Hassan Benmahdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 11/06/2007

[Hassan Benmahdi] Afak President Abderrahim Harouchi (left) and activist Noureddine Ayouch, president of 2007 Daba, attend the launch of the campaign in Casablanca.

With only a few months to go until Morocco’s legislative elections, the country’s NGOs are working around the clock to encourage citizens to use their vote and to choose their representatives freely. As a part of this drive, the Afak Community Involvement and Development Association organized a meeting on June 5th to unveil an awareness campaign targeting issues surrounding the September elections. The questions, "Why vote?", "Who to vote for?" and "Democracy, why bother?" are touchstones of the campaign, which runs through August 20th.

Abderrahim Harouchi, Afak's president, explained that the awareness campaign is one of a number of election-focused educational tools developed by the association. He added that substantial financial and logistical measures have been set in motion to combat abstention. "TV spots, booklets, print media, fliers, radio, poster campaigns…will allow us to relay this campaign to as much of the population as possible, regardless of social category", said Harouchi.

Sabah Chraibi, an academic and activist, indicated that the aim is to combat abstention and protest-voting, which he says are the true enemies of democracy. "If we use academic terminology today then it is only because we don’t want the forthcoming elections to be a wasted opportunity. The ballot box is the only means available to societies to effect change, provided it is used reasonably".

Through this campaign, the Afak Association aims to make citizens aware of the benefits of elections by emphasising that they are voting for programmes which could contribute to the construction of a democratic, modern, open and unified society, and reinforce the dynamic development already underway in Morocco, indicated Chraibi.

In this same vein, the authors of this campaign warn of the dangers of abstention and disapproval voting. According to Afak, "we would be wrong to believe that our vote or the lack of it will have no influence on the course of public life, our country’s development or our living conditions".

In order to convince citizens to head to the polls and to play an active role in positive change, Afak enumerates five arguments which respond to the question, "why should I vote, and who should I vote for?" First, it is a means of reinforcing the dynamic economic and social development that Morocco is currently experiencing. Next, voting allows Moroccans to keep hold of gains they have already made in the spheres of democracy and rights. Thirdly, it contributes to the establishment of the rule of law. It also helps guarantee a modern society, in tune with its time, which nevertheless respects its traditions and its culture. Lastly, by voting, Afak argues, Moroccans can bring to power progressive women and men, capable of managing public affairs with competence, rigour and selflessness.

If they contribute to a massive turnout at the elections, then these five arguments, Afak believes, will be able to assist in Morocco's reforms.