alt Hacker NewsTell HN: Please Vote
The strongest sign of a healthy democracy is that people participate in it. It's up to you to decide who to vote for, but no matter who you support, please show up and cast a ballot. A democracy with 75% voter turnout is healthier than a democracy with 50% voter turnout even exactly the same politicians got elected, because citizens participating in a democratic process signals that they value the process and want to keep it.
(Obviously, this only applies to people eligible to vote in ongoing elections. If you're not eligible to vote, please don't vote.)
Comments
The strongest sign of a healthy democracy is that people participate in it.
A counter would be that if people have to be badgered into doing it it's maybe not so healthy.
Withholding your vote is valid - ofc why you do that can be positive or negative wrt democratic health.
Also, if you vote, that shows that your demographic (age, gender, region, etc) matters to the process and thus matters for how candidates build their platform and parties choose their candidates.
Wait, Colin. You're Canadian. You already had your election day. Stay in your lane!
Also, this is last national election of the Trump era, so have your say while you still can!
Wife and I voted in Iowa last week. Normally I volunteer at the polls for my small county each election too, but they didn't need volunteers this year!
Buy a lottery ticket and thank a guy who was tricked into go to war to kill kids in foreign lands for your billionaires while you’re at it.
[dead]
Struggling to find the difference between the blue AIPAC vs the red AIPAC recipient. For now, it's over.
> A democracy with 75% voter turnout is healthier than a democracy with 50% voter turnout even exactly the same politicians got elected, because citizens participating in a democratic process signals that they value the process and want to keep it.
I disagree.
In Russia in 2024, Vladimir Putin got 87% of the vote, with 78% reported voter turnout, far higher than in any US election. Do you think that signals that Russian citizens value democracy and want to keep the current process, where Putin invariably wins by a landslide?
I'm not saying that people shouldn't get out and vote if they feel so moved. But voter turnout isn't intrinsically good or bad, nor does it signal a healthy democracy.
What DOES signal a healthy democracy?
- Meaningful electoral choice, including the choice of minor-party candidates. Ranked-choice voting can help here, because it's not as susceptible to vote spoiling as the "first past the post" system currently in widespread use in the US.
- Non-gerrymandered districts. Independent review and judicial checks and balances can help.
- Electoral competitiveness, where incumbents and established parties can realistically lose power. Term limits can help here.
- Accountability of elected officials.
- Integrity of the electoral process.
- Peaceful transfer of power.