MANILA -- Ideally, an electoral campaign in a democracy offers the voter the chance to study the available alternatives before deciding which options are most compatible with his or her individual preferences. In this sense, electoral campaigns should be exercises in political education.
In most countries, though, the reality is different. Instead of informing the public, political candidates frequently manipulate the truth. It has become a common practice that candidates make promises they know they can never fulfill. Unfulfilled promises are a major cause of a lack of popular confidence in political leadership. Broken promises also help explain the widespread disenchantment with the electoral process and democratic institutions in many countries.
Political campaigns vary from country to country. The way politicians pursue votes depends on a range of variables such as political institutions and traditions, economic and social conditions, as well as cultural and technological factors.