Voting is a right, privilege and something more

Day after tomorrow, people across the country will go to the polls to elect a new President. While voting is important in any election, whether it be provincial or national, this election will mark an important step in the future of our country.

Let's have a brief look at the whole question of politics and voting and see just what it all means.

"I don't vote. It's a waste of time". You would have heard this comment a number of times in the recent past. The person who spoke to you will give you many reasons for his decision. Mistrust of politicians; not interested/cannot be bothered; my vote won't make a difference and so on.

Personally I know several people who take the attitude that "it's a free country so I don't have to vote". I tell them, "Well, no you don't have to and all of us do live in a free country. But if that is the message you give I hope you will reconsider". Voting is a right - nobody can make anybody vote in a free country including Sri Lanka. But that is not the issue in my view.

I was thinking the other day - what will happen if we make voting compulsory. Yet, is it a feasible concept? In fact, I only know of one country where it is - and that is Australia. But even there it is not compulsory in reality. Technically a fine of fifty dollars applies to those who don't vote - hardly enough to send someone broke.

Japan used to get reasonable voter turnouts but over recent years the number has declined quite dramatically. Other countries have other experiences but really the issue is whether or not it is important to vote.

Just about every country in the world divides its population up into a practical, workable number. From that group of people is elected someone to represent the majority views of that group. That way only one out of say a hundred thousand needs to go to the 'meeting place', call it Parliament, Congress, Bundestag, Diet, Lok Sabha or whatever.

Very simple, very sensible and it works - but on one condition. If everyone votes there is no doubt just what the majority views and aspirations are.

But if say three quarters vote, or half, how can the elected representative know what the people he represents want? He/she knows what half want, but what of the others - it could be something different and most likely to tip the majority aspiration in a different direction.

I asked two academic university professionals about compulsory voting concept. One believes that the idea behind mandatory voting would "likely ... enhance the legitimacy of representative institutions and of the political system. It enforces the idea that voting is a social norm and since Government already mandates things like education for the social good." He questions, "why not voting?"

The other has a different view. "Sometimes, in order to save democracy, you have to do things that might seem to run a little bit against it, but I certainly like the idea of voting freely, as opposed to being required to do it by law," he said. He admitted he found the idea 'repugnant.'

However, mandatory voting carries with it tremendous cost and administration implications for the State. There are the questions of the accuracy of the voters' list, voter information, and the mechanisms for the follow-up fine or punishment system for non-voters. These points cannot be overlooked.

We must never lose the fact that our country is changing; our communities are changing; we are changing. It follows that our institutions and the way we participate in those institutions must also change. To promote a strong, vital and functioning democracy, we must be receptive to the needs of the times and be willing to address changes needed for all to participate.

We get the Government we deserve. Governments are just a bunch of politicians and if they are not pushed enough, there is no way they will work their maximum - that is simply universal political nature. But if the pressure is on, and continuous, then they have to perform or they are out.

The simple theory is that every person that doesn't vote makes that politician's job just that bit easier.

Democracy is a non-partisan issue. All our contesting parties alike believe in democracy. Voting puts the backbone in our democracy - it gives strength and support. Voting in political elections is not just a right, nor is it just a privilege. Then what is it? I contend that it is a grave responsibility.