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Democracy & participation; health of UK democracy - Coggle Diagram
Democracy & participation; health of UK democracy
Issues in UK elections
2) Disenfranchised voters:
HoL and mentally incapacitated
Votes at 16:
support for lowering the voting age to 16 has significantly increased in recent years
Votes at 16 Coalition, established in 2003, bring together groups such as the National Union of Students and the British Youth Council to campaign for a lowering of the voting age
2014 Scottish independence referendum, 16and 17-year-olds allowed to vote
2015, Scottish Parliament legislated to give 16and 17-year-olds the vote in Scottish local and parliamentary elections
outside of devolved regions, little discussion of lowering the vote nationally
Prisoner voting:
they are regarded as having renounced the rights of citizenship for the duration of the time that they are incarcerated
pressure groups such as Liberty and the Howard League for Penal Reform support prisoner voting
very little public pressure for a change in this law
issue was debated in the HoC in 2011, gained cross-party condemnation, 234 MPs against prisoner voting and 22 in favour
question of whether prisoners are being denied a fundamental human right gained some publicity in two cases brought by John Hirst against the British gov
Hirst's claim, that although he was in prison he should be allowed to vote, was dismissed by the courts in 2001, but in 2004 the ECtHR declared that the blanket ban on prisoner voting was contrary to Article 3 of the First Protocol of the ECHR
Hirst cases raised significant issues concerning the extent to which the British goverment can act in defiance of the ECtHR
since 2004 this had been a constant source of friction with the court and so in 2017 the gov offered to allow a small number of prisoners on day release the right to vote in order to resolve the problem (this concession generated little public interest)
Solution to disenfranchised voters, underage:
education
allowing them to vote encourages them to find out answers
allow them to vote for less important things then move onto important
Solution to disenfranchised voters, prisoners:
depending on time they get out / severity of crime committed
postponing when they can vote
political education of prisoners
make prisoners focus on rehabilitation
3) Turnout and the age divide:
influence of age on how we vote is significant; Conservatives support is strongest among older voters, while the Labour and Liberal/Liberal Democrat parties have generally won the support of younger voters
Conservative Party has historically benefited from the greater support that it has among older people because older people are more likely to vote
younger people may be more attracted to radical ideas but they have been less likely to vote, so providing the Conservatives with an inbuilt advantage
however, 2017 general election, Jeremy Corbyn's youth-focused campaign did encourage more young people to vote than in any general election since 1992, but even in 2017 there was still a significant imbalance with older voters more likely to cast their ballots (18-24yos, 5% UK population, 54% voted) (65+yos, 18% UK population, 71% voted)
many academics argue this disparity is as a result of the arcane nature of voting the idea of voting in person at polling stations does not often fit in easily with the busy lives of young people as a result creating a new generation of politically indifferent voters
supporters of digital democracy argue that facilitating electronic voting and political discussion will encourage greater political higher turnout (however it can be problematic)
Solutions of turnout and the age divide:
education (mock votes in schools, control on their lives)
campaigning, social media
young people issues
accessible, voting inside schools & unis
4) Two party dominance:
varied over the long term
1979, 95.8% seats won by two main parties, 80.8% of vote share
1997, 88.4% seats won by two main parties, 75.5% of vote share
2015, 86.7% seats won by two main parties, 67.3% of vote share
2017, 89.2% seats won by two main parties, 82.4% of vote share
other parties such as Lib Dem and Greens have been unable to covert their votes won into significant numbers of seats (mainly due to FPTP, 'winner takes all' system, strong gov of one party)
e.g. 2012 General Election, UKIP gained 12% of vote but only one seat in parliament, conservatives won 36% of vote and 330 seats
Devolved elections:
more multi-party systems, two main 'English' parties certainly do not dominate in Wales & Scotland; do not contest seats in N.Ireland
e.g. Scottish Parliament 2016, 63 seats SNP, 31 conservative, 24 labour
e.g. Welsh Assembly 2016, 29 seats labour, 12 Plaid Cymru, 11 conservative
e.g. N.Ireland Assembly 2016, 38 democratic unionists, 28 Sinn Fein, 16 ulster unionists
devolved elections use proportional representation, single party governments less likely e.g. Scotland SNP & Scottish Green Party coalition
fairer representation & greater visibility to smaller parties
however, critics say proportional representation are inefficient as good governance relies on how well parties in power work together & not unusual to see gov collapse (2017-2020 N.Ireland had no gov as 2 patties in power, DUP and Sinn Fein, refused to work together)
Solution to two party dominance:
proportional representation / ditch FPTP
fixeds seats for 1st, 2nd and 3rd
ranked then weighted votes
two vote system
2021- The Electoral Reform Society has argued that the government's elections bill would drive a "bulldozer through our democracy" and could disenfranchise more than 2m people across the country.
Ahead of the second reading of the bill, would require voters to show photo identification to cast a ballot in the next general election, group warned that it poses a "huge risk to democratic equality".
Director of policy and research at the Electoral Reform Society Dr Jess Garland highlighted that, according to the government's own figures, over 2m voters do not currently have access to recognisable photo ID
1) Declining turnout:
1918 turnout 57.2%, 1950 83.9%, 1992 77.7%, 1997 71.4%, 2001 59.4%, 2016 72.2%, 2017 68.6%
high after the war
long-term downward trend in turnout figures at general elections, especially from 1997 onwards
virtually all of this trend can be explained by an alarming and rapid fall in voting figures for the age group 18- 34
growing general apathy, belief politics has nothing to do with the things that concern the young and that voting will not make a difference
young increasingly finding alternative ways of participating in political activities, such as e-petitions, direct action and social media campaigns, moving away from conventional political activities
younger people tend to be interested more in single issues than in broad political ideologies; reflected in low election voting figures, less interest in political parties, but increased participation in pressure group activity and online campaigning
many young people feel the need to abstain (dont vote as no party represents their own views and aspirations adequately)
some non-voters may be protesting at the nature of the whole political system, believing it to be insensitive at best, corrupt at worst
some voters spoil their ballot paper as a form of protest
Solution to declining turnout:
greater cooperation
more education
clearer policies
compulsory voting
ditch FPTP
younger candidates
Democratic vs undemocratic
Voting (democratic elections):
Democratic:
secret ballot
one person per vote
establishing of electoral commission in 2000
fixed term parliaments in 2011
Undemocratic:
key positions unelected
FPTP voting system
electoral malpractice - postal votes
unenfranchised - people such as homeless cannot vote
non-voting, lower turnout in elections disproportionately affected poor and disadvantaged
2 party system
consensus politics
Parliament:
Democratic:
dominant house elected (HoC)
serves as debating chamber of nation
all laws pass through same stringent scrutiny process
Undemocratic:
HoL unelected
the party system, MP often have vote with party rather than constituents
executive control, ability to scrutinise gov action is hindered as the gov is often the majority party
Pressure groups:
Democratic:
representation for minorities
allow citizens influence between elections
Undemocratic:
concentrate power, only largest & wealthiest influence
undermine parliament, undermine the representative process
unaccountable power; group leaders often unelected
Referendums:
Democratic:
increase political participation
clear mandate
check on gov between elections
clean answer for course of action for divided gov
Undemocratic:
called by gov
low turnout
undermines parliament
too many can lead to apathy
Devolution:
Democracy:
gave constituents nations own voice
representative democracy
widened participation
Undemocratic:
devolved powers limited & not consistent
English question, nothing to advance representative democracy in England where population majority lives
Ways to extend the franchise
Compulsory voting:
common around world e.g. France, Spain, Italy
more symbolic than legal but in Australia fine if not vote ($20)
For:
sense of duty
increased legitimacy
parties have to target all voters
Against:
infringes civil liberties
no evidence it increases engagement
failure to vote is an indication of dissatisfaction rather than apathy (could alternatively spoil the ballot)
Digital democracy:
For:
easier participation
access to information
ease of organisation
puts power back in the hands of the people, costs lower
Against:
easier for malpractice
virtual democracy or push button politics where no thought is put into decisions
societal divide, less technologically literate would be excluded from this process (could still vote in other ways)
Lowering the voting age:
16yo voted in 2014 Scottish Independence election (80% of under 18s turned out)
For:
responsibilities without right e.e. can join army or pay taxes at 16
youth interests normally ignored
stronger political engagement
irrational cut off age
Against:
immature votes
preserving childhood
deferred rather than denied representation
undermining turnout, those that may not vote could lower overall turnout
Prisoner voting:
current ban upheld by ECHR in 2015
cannot not in prison and certain crimes (e.g. murder) disqualify you from voting
For:
helps reintegrate into society
it is a democratic right
Against:
they have broken societal rules - why should they participate in it?
part of punishment is having certain rights removed
Prisoner voting information:
crime prisoners commit: 69% non-violent crimes,46% serve 6 months or less, average prison sentence for all offences in UK 2020 was 19months
what groups of people are in prison: mainly 30-39yos (turnout by age has a dip in this section), 27% BAME (overrepresented, less represented in votes), 96% male
UK public opinion: prisons are a microcosm of society (often have access to newspapers & radio) so should vote, YouGov poll 63% said no prisoners should be allowed to vote and 8% saying all (but only 1812 people voted), prisoners have greater things to focus on
amount not allowed: 173/100,000 of population in England & Wales in 2019 in prison (but even higher as ban occurs while out of prison too), UK has highest imprisonment rates in Europe, march 2017 74,623 people banned regardless of severity
reintegration into society: not allowing vote perpetuates idea still dangerous, 25% men & 20% women leave prison into employment, 90% have drug/alcohol problem, personality disorder or some other mental health problem, in UK around 60% released inmates reoffend in 2 year period (reoffending costs economy approx. £11b)
countries that allow prisoner voting / don't: Norway allow unless terrorist or political (Norway has lowest reoffending rates around 20% within 5 years & crime rates in the world), UK only 1/12 countries where people in prison still stripped of voting rights
people dont feel ECHR needed anymore
fear if we remove some peoples rights when does it end
What caused decline in membership
Blame the public
- increasingly apathetic leading to civil disengagement
Blame the media
- cynicism, "politics bad"
Blame the politicians
lack of vision, elected > moral purpose
age of spin, scewing & controlling news
lack of choice, parties relatively the same (has gotten a bit better since 2010)
electoral strategies, targeting specific areas
Ways citizens can participate in politics
voting
boycotts, marches, strikes, (protest)
writing to your MP
volunteering to work for campaign
joining a political party
joining pressure groups
donating to campaign
media campaigns
consultation with the government
educating yourself on politics/educating others
run for election
following a party / pressure group online
the older you get, the more vested in the state you become (e.g. pensions) and thus more interested in politics as it effects you more
16 & 17 year olds voting
Yes
A1) being allowed to vote would inspire 16yos & 17yos to be politically active
85% of secondary schools have a student council, 20,000 young people in local youth councils, responsibility, educate
Kritzinger, Austria, 16-17yos less represented than 30+ but more likely to vote than 18-24 age group
Austria highest turnout rates on average, gap between first time voters & 16-17yos ranges between 2.3-10% (similar trends in Scotland)
A2) all citizens using their political voice is what makes democracy work, young people often told to take responsibility for our future but how can we if we have no power, being involved creates active citizens
1.3 million 16 & 17 you in the UK
can raise issues affecting young people
Japan lowers voting age from 20 to 18 due to old population, ageing (highest level of gov trust)
in 10+ years in Austria, younger people now have more faith in the system (2007)
A3) at 16 people can work, pay taxes, leave home, get married, joined the armed forces and make other crucial decisions about their future, but not a say in how our country is run
No
A1) if we want them to engage we cannot give rights without understanding responsibility, too soon at this age
parents + carers are responsible until you are 18 in law, thus dont have responsibility
A2) our democracy is better served if more time, effort & resources on engaging people who already have the right to vote, vital for democracy to get all citizens participation
cost for 2014 election in UK was £10.87m with £10.4m in polling cards, including 16 year olds cost even more, better spent encouraging people already with vote
16-17yos less than 0.02% of population
A3) 16 & 17 you cannot do much at all, not legally drink or smoke, can only get married with parental permission, join army but cannot risk life and limb until 18, can get a job & pay income tax but law requires them in full time education or training until 18, voting is a hard-won right
Voter participation
E-participation:
Pros:
easier
dont have to leave home
easier for disabled people
cheaper: labour, goods, transport
promotes younger engagement
Cons:
hacking possible
old people struggle
push button, no thoughts
not everyone has access to tech
Lower voting age:
Pros:
greater "pro civic" attitudes (Austria, 2007)
parties have to focus one everyone, leads to more engagement in 18-24 bracket
get younger people into habit of voting
when young people have the vote they seek info (Scotland)
could lead to greater legitimacy
Cons:
not responsible enough
responsibilities that 16yos do have are still qualified e.g. parental consent
heavily influenced by family
politicisation
we've chosen 18
could create a habit of not voting
could lower voting turnout even more
Is there a participation crisis in the UK?
Participation crisis:
declining turnout in elections and referendums
declining membership of political parties
Turnout at general elections
fairly stable around 71-84% voting in each election from 1945-2001, in 2001 there was a sudden drop to 59.4% where it has gradually increased since, but not back to pre-2001 levels
low turnout in 2001 possibly due to media creating cynicism
Memberships of political parties:
labour, 485,000 members, July 2019, -32,000 since July 2017
conservative, 180,000 members, July 2019, +30,200 since July 2017
SNP, 125,534 members, Dec 2018, +5,534 since July 2017
Liberal Democrat, 115,000 members, August 2019, +33,000 since July 2017
Green, 48,500 members, July 2019, -7,000 since July 2017
UKIP, 29,000 members, April 2019, -10,000 since July 2017
Plaid Cymru, 10,000 members, October 2018, +1,277 since July 2017
Conservatives possible struggling due to BREXIT and Boris becoming PM pushes more opposition membership, however in July 2019 Corbyn faced anti-semitism allegations and Boris was viewed as "likeable" (increase in conservative membership & decrease in labour)
hard to measure participation crisis as may be few members of party yet high voter turnout or vise versa, also need a long term study to determine