Is it prohibited to buy electoral v...

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Is it prohibited to buy electoral votes?

Question

Is it prohibited to buy electoral votes?

Answer

Buying votes is prohibited and election middlemen are sinful. This is because such an act is considered a forbidden bribe due to the words of the Prophet [peace and blessing be upon him] who said, “Cursed is the one who offers a bribe, the one who takes it, and the intermediary between the person giving and accepting it. “[1] 

The candidate

A person who runs for elections must be honest. It is not permissible for him to use his money to achieve his electoral objectives to influence voters.

The voter

It is impermissible for anyone to accept money in exchange for doing anything that constitutes a prohibited request from a candidate. This is forbidden and considered unlawfully consuming the property of others in addition to being fraud and lying. It is obligatory upon the voters who accept money to return it to the candidate.

The middleman

It is prohibited for anyone to act as an election middleman because this is tantamount to facilitating prohibited acts. All people must distance themselves from such actions and unite to eliminate them. Islam commands its followers to uphold honesty, freedom of will, and appoint the competent candidate as it prohibits them from lying, bribery, and abject manners. On the other hand, it is permissible for the candidates to spend whatever is necessary on election propaganda without exploiting the regulations developed especially for this purpose.

Allah the Almighty knows best.
 

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