We must protect the voting franchise
There is probably no more important feature of a democracy than free, fair and credible elections. Voting determines who leads our societies and peacefully expresses our desires and frustrations with the governance we get.
The United States has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the developed world: About 56% of the eligible population turned out to vote in the 2016 presidential elections. Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark routinely register voter turnouts of more than 80%. Belgium and Australia have compulsory voting, which reminds every citizen of their civic duty, similar to their civic duties to serve on juries and pay taxes. Exercising this responsibility is so important that everyone must make a choice even if that choice is to spoil the vote.
But voting is also a right, like the right to expression, which some may choose not to use, which is the justification for voluntary voting.
In my view, voting is both a right and a civic duty. It is a right that everyone who attains majority age should have and which should never be taken away from them except in extreme circumstances. The Brexit referendum in the UK prompted debates about whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 — when one can get driver’s permits —as the vote forced choices on them that they vehemently disagreed with.
What is clear is that the state, politicians and civil society should be at the forefront of advocating for more voters, not less. The higher the voter turnout, the higher the legitimacy of those elected to govern and the better for social stability and confidence in the rule of law and civility.
Conversely, a state that works to limit voting is more interested in the form of democracy rather than its substance. It effectively results in minority rule and rule by might rather than by right.
Internationally, such regimes are termed authoritarian or illiberal democracies. And they are especially fragile and susceptible to crime, instability and discord as the Fund for Peace tells us each year in its annual study of fragility of nations.
The last few years have seen what many call a global democratic recession where intolerance reigns unfettered, democratic values and institutions are undermined and there is increasing “strong man” rule. The world has also seen more protests and discontent with governance — a lot of which is progressive but some that is expressed in racist, xenophobic and intolerant terms.
We can challenge this trend in many ways, and we should use all the tools at our disposal including protests, vigils and civil disobedience.
Maina Kiai is a Kenyan lawyer and human rights activist. He will speak Feb. 15 at the Fireside Forum: Local Issues, Global Solutions. Topic: “Protecting Your Franchise: Election Integrity and Voter Rights,” with Kiai and state Rep. Frederick Kessler, 7 p.m., UWM Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Fireside Lounge. The series is free and sponsored by the University of WisconsinMilwaukee Institute of World Affairs and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More information: www.iwa.uwm.edu