Research On The Pattern Of Self-nomination In Village Committee Election

Self-nomination in village committee election is the action that voters whoqualified for election put forward preliminary candidates and then determine formalcandidates. Not only election is the legal way to constitute village committee, but alsois the important means to achieve autonomy. Village committee election includespreparation for election, constitution of election institution, registration of voters,nomination, formal election, and so on. Nominating and determining the candidates ofvillage committee are crucial procedure of village committee election and importantmarks of participation of election and own election right. At present, mass election isthe prevail pattern of nomination in village committee election. However, there aremany problems in mass election in practice, such as control of nomination, lack ofcompetition and complication of procedure. These problems have prevent the villagecommittee election from the effective election. Moreover, others nomination patterns,such as combinatorial election, five people nomination, locating nomination andelection without candidates, have many problems also. The results of reform of thesepatterns are frustrated. It is urgent to find a nomination pattern which could satisfy thevillage committee election. Haoyuan village had made the pilot of self-nomination in village committeeelection in2008, and had got positive results. Self-nomination is the pattern ofnomination that voters, who own the right of voting and being selected, put forwardthemselves as the primary candidates towards electoral committee, and determineformal candidates after the enough propaganda and the election in advance by thewhole voters. Self-nomination has practical fundament. It is the product of history andpractice. From the practices of Haoyuan village, self-nomination do good to the fulfillof the right of voting and being selected, and to the enhance of the efficiency andcompetition of nomination. It could make sure the independence and equality of thenomination, and could compensate for the defect of mass election. However, itexposed some problems during the pilot. As a result, self-nomination should bemodified in some ways. For example, only inductive criteria could be set for thequalification of people who recommend themselves, and it should be agree by peoplewho recommend themselves before publicizing the resources of them, and election inadvance to determine formal candidates is needed when there are too many peoplewho recommend themselves. Above all, self-nomination has special advantages, andcould impetus the direct democracy in countries in China. As a more effectivenomination pattern, self-nomination could be popularized step by step in practice.However, whether the self-nomination could improve the status of nomination invillage committee election, and protect the democratic election in villages, isdepended on the explore in practice and the increasing development in theory.