[POLITICS] Low Voter Turnouts in Democracy

Giorgia Meloni is widely expected to form Italy's most right-wing government since World War Two. With around 26% votes in their favour, the Brothers of Italy, a party with neo-fascist roots that came up with the slogan - "God, family and fatherland" has sent a clear message to the Italians and rest of Europe. Italy is a founding father of the European Union and a member of Nato, and Ms Meloni's rhetoric on the EU places her close to Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban. 

However, when we take a closer look to understand the rise of Ms Meloni. We come across some parallel developments like, populism, economic slowdown, unemployment, polarisation among communities, anti-immigrant stand and LGBT bashing. Yet, as one may think that such extreme opinions are bound to draw more and more people in the public sphere. The voter turnout in Italy has a different story to tell. Turnout fell to a record low of 63.91% - nine points down on 2018 elections.

Elections provide important barometer for health of a democracy. That health is often measured through voter turnout. Now there are some scholars like Almond and Verba, who in their work 'The Civic Culture', suggest that excessive participation may not be good for democracy. Saying it has potential to convert democracy into mobocracy.

Now, there is another side to consider. It is believed that a certain minimal participation is essential to affirm some legitimacy to the entire process of election. In case of very low voter turnout, the election results will not hold legitimacy in the public eye. There have been some worrying trends of lower voter participation in many developed countries. For instance, Belgium had to introduce compulsory voting.

According to Robert D. Putnam, social capital is a key component to building and maintaining democracy. The social capital refers to "connections among individuals – social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them." The overall decline in trust between communities and social capital is a big reason for lower participation of voters. In general this low participation is more in European countries. While, in recent years the participation in America and South Asian countries has increased.

 Some systemic factors, like decline of political parties and representative institutions like parliaments are also contributing to this eroding public trust. There is a huge disconnect between people and the elites. Parliaments are the institutions that represent public. If they decline, we find, in almost all countries, there is a rise of executive and judiciary to fill the void.

It will be foolish to see declining voters participation as declining political participation. People are constantly looking for alternative platforms like new social movements - fight for equal wage, LGBT rights etc

The highly individualistic culture of the west, excessive preoccupation with economic sphere of life can also be seen as some factors leading to the decline. 

Till recently, west and its institutions were able to address the basic necessities of life. Hence, there was a greater political apathy among the people in these countries. But, with war in Ukraine, Putin is showing them tough times and sky high inflation has already broken their backs. Also scholars like Thomas Pikkety have worked to expose the rise in inequality, as one of the impacts of globalisation. With risk of recession looming around. Chances are that we may see an increase in turnout in the upcoming future.