Higher voter turnout vital
There is something fundamentally wrong with the electoral system in B.C. Since 1983, the participation of eligible voters in provincial general elections has fallen more than 10 percentage points. Roughly 40 per cent of those eligible to vote now decline to do so.
Three questions we should be asking about this negative trend: Should we be concerned about this low turnout? What are the causes of the decline in turnout? What can be done to improve turnout?
With only 60 per cent of eligible voters actually exercising their franchise in the May election, the Liberals, who received the most votes (796,772 out a total of 3,156,991 registered voters), appealed to only 25.2 per cent of us.
The NDP received the support of virtually the same percentage of registered voters while the Green party received 10.3 per cent. This means the next government will have been elected by 35 per cent or fewer of registered voters. In such circumstances, there can be a concern about the legitimacy of a government as well as its ability to represent the electorate adequately.
The causes of low voter turnout are difficult to pin down with certainty. Part may be indifference. Those who fail to vote obviously don’t care how their tax dollars are spent if they can’t be bothered to participate.
Another cause could be cynicism. Perhaps increasing numbers of citizens believe that their vote for a given party will have no effect on what that party will do if they form a government. (The recent speech from the throne when compared to the platform put forth by the Liberals would support such a belief.) “Why should I vote when my vote will be ignored?”
Some may not like the first-past-the-post system. “Why should I vote when the winner in any given riding could win with less than a majority of the votes cast making my vote potentially worthless?”
Perhaps, especially for young people, voting is not easy or convenient enough. In an age of instantaneous communications, the voting process has not really changed to reflect the new reality. Why, for example, can’t we vote electronically using our computer or mobile phone?
Non-voters, whatever their rationale for failing to show up at the polls, must believe that, individually or even collectively, they can have little impact on the government process. Such a belief in the futility of voting implies there is a chronic need for a sustained effort to educate citizens that the exercise of their individual vote is key to attaining an effective and responsive government.
At the same time, funds must be devoted to obtaining a better understanding of the causes of lethargic voter turnout so that voter education programs can reverse this corrosion of voter participation for the longer term.
Without remedial action, participation in elections may continue to decline, eventually leading to a government responsive only to the perceived desires of a small minority of the population.
Such a government could operate under policies and priorities contrary to those which are essential for the continued prosperity of the province. That means government by the few for their narrow benefit rather than in the interests of the general public.
In the meantime, practical steps can be tried, using carrot or sticks. An example of a carrot might be a payment equal to one hour at the minimum wage to each voter. Some would argue against this, saying that it rewards voters for merely doing their civic duty.
A stick approach could follow the Australian example where voting is mandatory and fines are levied if you do not vote. The size of the fine would increase for each subsequent failure to vote. Since those aged 18 to 24 are the group most likely not to vote, such a program might instill early on the habit of voting in each election.
Whatever system is instituted, improved voter turnout will make for a stronger democracy and better government.
David Bond is an author and retired bank economist. Contact him by email at: curmudgeon@harumpf.com.