Don Anderson | Voter apathy and impact on the nation

We all know from the last election in 2020 that Jamaica recorded its lowest voter turnout in our history, with 37.8 per cent of the eligible voters casting their ballots on Election Day.

Undoubtedly, this was a sad day for our electoral process, and indeed for democracy, but I want to put this in context, not that this diminishes the import, but it does help us to understand the true magnitude of this turnout.

Prior to 2000, voters registered to vote when an election is called. Hence, voter turnout was particularly high. Voter turnout was a close mirror of the number of persons who registered.

At the turn of the century, we shifted to a system of continuous registration. It meant that the number of persons registering grew each year and, by the time an election was called five years later, that number had grown significantly. So, in our busiest election year to date, 1980, over 80 per cent of the registered voters went to the polls.

In 2020, this was 37.8 per cent, as the persons registering nowadays do so, not necessarily to vote, but because the card provides them with one of the best means of identification in Jamaica. So, whereas the number of registered persons grew exponentially between 1980 when it stood at 990,000 and 2020, when 1,913,000 persons were registered, voter turnout dropped precipitously from 860,000 to 715,000

So, as a people, we have developed a very high degree of apathy towards voting, and we now need to consider what are the key impacts of this growing challenge. Jamaica, by the way, is virtually at the bottom of the Caribbean in terms of voter turnout and, by extension, at the top of voter apathy across the region.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS?

What are the reasons why voters are not turning out? Without a doubt, it is because they have become apathetic towards politics, political parties, politicians and the political process.

1. Too much corruption in politics

2. No difference between the two parties

3. None performing effectively

4. No confidence in them

5. Too many unfulfilled promises

6. Politics too dirty

7. All politicians are the same

8. None of them helping the people

9. People will not benefit

10. They only look out for themselves

So, what are the implications for us as a nation? A number of impacts come readily to mind, all of which are exceedingly concerning.

IMPACTS

- In the 2020 election, 37.8 per cent of registered voters numbering 715,000 person voted. 57 per cent of this number totalling 407,000 voted for the JLP to form the government. This represents 21 per cent of the registered voters and even less of the adult population 18 years and over. So the country is being governed by a party elected by less than 20 per cent of the adult voting population. This serves to weaken the democratic process, leading to a loss or reduction of legitimacy of the government, and has the potential of concentrating power in fewer hands, for fewer people.

- This can create a cycle of mistrust, apprehension and lead to further erosion of confidence in the political process.

- As people disengage more and more from the process, what the politicians do and say assumes less and lesser importance.

- There is a growing sense amongst the electorate that voting makes no sense as politicians will do as they please anyway. “What’s the sense of voting” i was asked by a group of adults who appear to have withdrawn themselves, having previously voted.

- Voter apathy is building a greater and greater sense of disillusionment amongst the people that any of the parties can or will make a change in their lives, so these persons are becoming more and more marginalised.

- Voter apathy feeds into and erodes the interest of the citizenry in important values such as corruption and integrity. In three studies done almost simultaneously by my organisation, the conclusion was that, “corruption is a way of life”.

- As more and more persons become marginalised, they tend to look for solutions outside of the political process and this facilitates the elites making deals in their own interests. This can provide fertile grounds for anti democratic pursuits by actors mobilizing frustrated minorities

- When politicians realise that fewer and fewer people are voting, the temptation grows to renege on election promises, reducing accountability to the people of the country.

- Voter apathy has the potential to impact engagement of the people in community activity, weaken voluntarism and lower values of social togetherness, less interest in the affairs of the community and country and a greater pursuit of individual goals

- Because so few young persons are becoming connected, we run the risk of longer term disengagement and increased disillusionment amongst the people.

- Voter apathy reduces the level of external pressure for accountability as persons grow to accept what is offered without process or resistance, hence critical reforms can be delayed to the detriment of the interest of the country.

- A continued period of low participation can signal a weak democratic system and create considerations of increased non-democratic action leading to political unrest.

- Similar,ly a country that exhibits continued low participation can be viewed as being unstable for international investment.

When we critically examine the factors driving increased voter apathy, it is clear that the onus for addressing this monster amongst us lies squarely at the feet of the political parties. Parties that are keen to ensure we maintain and strengthen the democratic process must begin to do some serious introspection, some serious soul searching, in order to cauterise this disaffection and disillusionment, or run the risk of opening the doors for a complete breakdown in trust in elections or democracy, with potential dire consequences.

Don Anderson is the executive chairman of Market Research Services Limited. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com