Does the obligation to vote create a more meaningful election?
It would seem that voting is the cornerstone of any democratic society. Whether dealing with municipal, provincial, or national elections, the right to vote is engrained within the fabric of the model democratic citizen. But how many Canadians actually take action and head to the ballots? According to Elections Canada, only 61.1 per cent of Canada’s eligible population voted in the 2011 federal elections. As the Canadian population increases, the idea that one vote does not make a difference grows stronger.
There are various reasons and opinions that people hold onto when deciding to vote. In Ancient Greece, it was mandatory for every citizen (although only males were considered citizens at the time) to participate in votes. By urging every citizen to actively participate and voice concerns with the good of the Athenian state in mind, democracy appears to be fully functional and liberating for the community and its citizens.
Would enforcing mandatory voting in Canada aid the democratic process or would it take freedom away from the choice of the citizen? A major reason why the decision to vote is a difficult one to make is due to a lack of knowledge or research. While a lot of youth are actively involved in the political scene, many are not and have no clue about the stance of each or any party. This lack of political awareness translates into an inactivity. The intertwining of politics and community within the everyday life of Ancient Greek society held for a more meaningful vote and voice. Each voter was aware of their decision and in turn knew their own opinion would be heard. Knowing that our sentiments are heard in a meaningful way is essential to urge voters to become willingly involved in the democratic process – reinforcing our dwindling sense of community.
Pro-voting campaigns typically urge the average person to get out and head to the ballots. However, the action of going to vote does not outweigh the importance of having a meaningful vote and being involved in the community. The way to communicate political awareness by encouraging youth to vote becomes meaningless without the commitment and involvement of the voter. In order to gain an affirmation of community, the investment of the voter must be genuine. Otherwise the focus is entirely on numbers and the person who is casting the vote becomes arbitrary.
While contemporary Canadian society is vastly different from Ancient Greece, there is something profound in the sense of community that Athenians harboured between citizens. The involvement and knowledge of each individual in the outcome of their government is crucial to the success of any democratic state. The right to vote should be supplemented with a genuine and mutual urge to take action and better the community whether on a municipal, provincial or federal level.