The promise and pathology of democracy: The Commission on Elections of the Philippines

The study and examination of election administration is crucial to the study of democracy because election commissions provide legitimacy and oversee the transfer of the right to govern among competing power seekers. Given the importance of election administration in the study of democratic processes, however, it is surprising that there are very few studies that focus on election administration.;In the seven decades since its formation in 1939, the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has been tasked with a mandate to lead the electoral process with integrity and credibility as a constitutional commission that is purportedly independent and impartial. Yet despite the Philippines having the longest electoral experience in Southeast Asia, its Commission on Elections exhibits very little evidence of strong procedural norms able to insulate it from the interference of politicians. Instead the COMELEC exhibits a three-pronged pathology. The first pathology is an externally motivated clientelistic relationship where the patron is a member of the political-economic elite seeking assistance from clients within COMELEC in order to promote advantageous electoral outcomes. The second is an internal type of clientelistic relationship where the patron is inside the bureaucracy and his or her clients occupy subordinate positions within that bureaucracy. The goal is commonly personal and career enrichment using bureaucratic network and expertise. The third pathology that plagues COMELEC is organizational inefficiency.;While it was empowered by law as a constitutional commission, the reality is that the COMELEC is not vested with the autonomy, bureaucratic integrity, or capacity to carry out its mandate. This study presents an analytical framework to better understand the overlapping impact of elite capture, patrimonial excess and bureaucratic incompetence. It contributes to the democratization literature by emphasizing how autonomous election commissions are an essential factor in democratic institutional reform. The study concludes by proposing measures for promoting effective reform, one pathology at a time.