MANILA -- In most countries, elections attract enormous public attention. This is not surprising as these political exercises constitute the heart of democratic order. Translated into English, the originally Greek word "democracy" means "rule of the people."
In most democracies today, popular political participation is confined to the selection of leaders on election day every few years. Still, the exercise of popular voting gives political legitimacy to the people's representatives. This legitimacy is essential also for the stability of the democratic constitutional order.
In countries where the election process is flawed the political leadership lacks legitimacy. Often this is the source of political instability, if not turmoil. Elections and democracy are like two wheels of a cart: If you remove one wheel, the vehicle cannot move forward.