Ministry of Civil Affairs Releases Timetable for 2008-2009 Village Elections

The Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA) has released a report on Chinese village committee (VC) elections conducted from 2005 to 2007, and a timetable for those to be held from 2008 to 2009, according to a January 1 report posted on the Chinese government's website.

Since the late 1980s, Chinese authorities have implemented limited electoral reforms that allow citizens to vote in village elections. But Party control over the electoral process remains significant. The MOCA report notes that Party members comprise 66.49 percent of elected VC members, and that 35 percent of VC chairman positions are held concurrently by the village Party secretary.

The MOCA report notes three external factors that interfered with the quality of the 2005-2007 elections: 1) family and clan influence, 2) a lack of voter enthusiasm, and 3) corruption and "illegal competitive electioneering behavior" on the part of candidates.