Abstention is a problem as it can weaken the legitimacy of elected representatives and lead to decisions being made by a less representative portion of the population.
When too many citizens boycott the polls, elected officials find themselves with much less popular support. This diminishes the credibility and strength of their mandate, as they are elected by only a small portion of the population. As a result, a majority of citizens may feel that the decisions made do not truly represent them. Without strong participation in elections, democracy loses power and legitimacy, as it is no longer a true reflection of the general will.
When many citizens do not go to the polls, elected officials feel less obliged to genuinely respond to their expectations. As a result, the public policies implemented are likely to be poorly adapted to the real needs of the entire population. Worse, certain specific groups, often very concerned with particular interests, take advantage of this low participation to strongly influence decisions. This creates a gap: those who decide are rarely representative of the silent majority. In short, the less citizens participate in voting, the more public decisions are likely to be disconnected from people's daily lives and more focused on priorities limited to certain privileged groups, to the detriment of the public interest.
When many people stop voting, it gives the impression that getting involved in politics isn't really worth much anymore. It creates a kind of collective disillusionment: everyone thinks their vote won't change anything, so they give up. The less we vote, the less we feel concerned about what's happening politically. Essentially, it creates a snowball effect. Moreover, this disinterest particularly affects young people: the more they see that their elders don’t feel involved, the more likely they are to follow suit. In the long term, it leads to a more detached and less engaged society, where citizens lose their voice and hand over power to a more motivated minority. And clearly, we all lose out in that scenario.
When voter turnout decreases, extremist movements often benefit. Why? Because their supporters, who are more motivated and determined, tend to show up at the polls much more than those of moderate parties, who are less mobilized or more hesitant. As a result, with low participation, these minority but highly mobilized parties find themselves proportionately strengthened and gain more influence. In other words, when many people stay home on voting day, it paves the way for the rise of radical or extremist ideas that may not reflect the views of the silent majority. Extremists do not necessarily grow because they convince more people, but rather because the others, more moderate, no longer bother or no longer want to go vote.
When many citizens abstain, it is mainly the most politically engaged or mobilized individuals who end up voting. The result? Elected officials represent the interests of a minority much more clearly and leave a large part of the population aside. Young people, the economically precarious, or groups already distanced from political life are often the great absentees from elections, while wealthier or older categories vote much more. This creates a real imbalance between what citizens truly want and what elected officials decide. Some voices become very influential, while others are completely unheard.
In some countries like Australia and Belgium, voting is mandatory, leading to average participation rates exceeding 90%.
According to a study conducted by Sciences Po, young voters (ages 18-24) abstain from voting twice as often as their older counterparts during elections in France, revealing a growing disinterest among the new generations.
A rise in abstention often benefits extreme or radical movements, as the latter enjoy greater mobilization of their loyal voters in contrast to the demobilization of other citizens.
In Switzerland, high abstention rates (often over 50%) are regularly observed despite the presence of well-developed democratic tools such as the popular initiative referendum. This paradox can be partly explained by the high frequency of electoral consultations.
A high abstention rate does not necessarily call into question the legal or formal aspect of the vote, but it often raises a problem of democratic and political legitimacy. Indeed, the lower the participation, the less elected officials can claim to fully represent all citizens.
Sure! Here’s the translation: "Yes, in many cases, low turnout can benefit parties with extreme or minority positions. When a large segment of citizens abstains, the politically highly mobilized voters, often supporters of extreme movements, see their electoral influence strengthened."
Some countries, like Belgium and Australia, implement mandatory voting to increase electoral participation. This measure can indeed reduce abstention, but it does not necessarily eliminate the deep political apathy among citizens. Therefore, it should be accompanied by other initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic engagement.
Among the effective initiatives are: improving civic and political education, organizing information campaigns on electoral issues, simplifying voting procedures (proxy voting, electronic voting, or mail-in voting), and better addressing citizens' concerns in political programs.
The frequently mentioned reasons include distrust towards politicians and political institutions, the feeling that voting does not sufficiently influence public policies, a lack of information on electoral issues, and the perception of a lack of political options that meet their expectations.
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