The right to vote is an important aspect of all democratic counties. Voter apathy alludes to the lack of interest and enthusiasm among voters, which results in low voters’ turnout in an election. While an election gives people a chance to make their voice heard and who deciding who holds political power, voter apathy is increasing. Young people are the main group of people that feel alienated by the political class in decision-making. Given their large number, they can easily put the right person in the office who will represent their interests. When the majority of people in a democratic country neglect their obligation to vote, then the government no longer represents the will of the people as it should be in an ideal democratic space where the majority wins. There are several reasons why voters get discouraged and find no meaning in voting. For instance, when voters witness corruption or governments that cannot provide affordable health care or education, it creates a sense that their voices aren’t heard, thus voter apathy. However, voters should not be discouraged from voting by irresponsive governments. The best thing to do is to vote the bad leaders out by electing a better one. This essay will discuss voter apathy among Canadian and American voters and insist on the importance of voting.
Voter apathy in Canada and the U.S
Voter turnout in Canada has always been slightly higher compared to that of the U.S. Although the voter turnout has been slightly increasing in Canada in the past decade, the voter turnout in the country is still low. In 2008 general election, the voter turnout was 58%, in 2011, it was 61%, 68% in 2015 and 66% in 2019 (sfa.ca, n.d). Historical context has been used by experts to explain the declining voter turnout in Canadian elections. Since 1993, the percentage of all registered Canadian voters has declined. In the U.S., the voter turnout in the 2016 general election 56% compared to the 70% turnout in 2008 (DeSilver, 2018). The 56% turnout in 2016 puts the U.S. behind Canada and most of its other peers.
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The U.S. and Canada are both democracies and federal states. Being democratic states, it means people in both countries have the authority to decide who governs them and how they are governed. The power of the majority is exercised representation, which necessitates people to vote for their most preferred candidates. Although the Canadian and U.S. democracy has a number of differences, the declined voting rate among registered voters can be associated with voter apathy. With voter apathy becoming more pronounced with each election in both countries and it presents a challenge for democracy. When the turnout amongst registered voters is low, the credibility of the process is compromised. One of the reasons that people may choose to keep away from voting is when they are doubtful of the democratic process. Voter apathy also creates a feeling of disillusionment in society. When the voter turnout is low, more people are left out, and the government formed as a result, may not represent the wishes of a lot of people (Staff, 2019). This can create a feeling among people that the government does not serve the interests of the majority. Thereby, low voter turnout is an indication of a failure in the democratic process. If leaders do nothing in strengthening institutions and build trust between people and the government, voter apathy can get worse. If voter turnout is below certain levels, the electoral process can collapse, which can mean the failure of democracy.
Governments have tried to apply different models to address the issue of voter apathy, but the impact has been minimal. For instance, both the use and Canada have often invested in voter sensitization and education before elections, and there has been a great change, if at all. The sensitization is done by influential politicians and celebrities, electoral bodies, civil society bodies, and political parties, as well as they, try to gather numbers for their candidates (DeSilver, 2018). The only time the efforts have borne fruits is when there are popular candidates running, which makes the process a bit interesting for them and galvanize to vote. For instance, the U.S. presidential election of 2008 had a 70% voter turnout because of the popularity of the Democratic candidate, Barrack Obama. In the ongoing U.S. election, the voter turnout could even be lower because of the covid-19 pandemic.
Conclusively, voter apathy is a serious issue that requires an inclusive approach that can restore trust between people and their governments. Governments need to have special programs that can make people feel like they are part of a government that works for them. Despite the concerns the citizens might have, they should never discard their right to vote. When citizens don't vote, they give away their power, which just makes things worse by bringing in an even worse government that only serves the interests of the few. The first step of solving issues like corruption, healthcare, security, education, among other government services, is voting.
References
DeSilver, D. (2018). U.S. trails most developed countries in voter turnout. Pew Research Centre. Retrieved from: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/21/u-s-voter-turnout-trails-most-developed-countries/
Elections (n.d). Historical Voter Turnout in Canadian Federal Elections & Referenda, 1867-2019. Retrieved from: https://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/elections/historical-turnout.html
Staff, S. H. |. (2019, November 27). Weekender | The United States of Apathy: To vote or not to vote? The Daily Californian. https://www.dailycal.org/2019/11/26/the-united-states-of-apathy-to-vote-or-not-to-vote/
