Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Franchise and debates over suffrage - Coggle Diagram
Franchise and debates over suffrage
Due to the worries regarding the participation crisis in the UK, people have suggested several options to increase the turnout rates
making voting compulsory in elections
online democracy
Lowering the voting age to 16
Franchise- the right to vote in elections. Overtime the franchise has been extended to include all adults over 18
Currently in the UK all adults above the age of 18 can vote, however many argue that this should be extended to 16 and 17 year olds in general elections
Participation crisis- a participation crisis is a descritipiuon of the ways in which critics have suggested that various forms of political participation may by declining in the UK and hence leading to a possible democratic crisis
2019 -
67.3%
2017-
68.7%
2015 -
66.1%
2010 -
65.1%
2005 -
61.4%
2001 -
59.4%
1997-
71.4%
1992 -
77.7%
1987 -
75.3%
1983 -
72.7%
1979 -
76%
Is there a participation crisis in the UK?
There is a participation crisis
Party membership has gone down since 1979
Across several referendums turnout is exetremely low or lower than in general elections- for example the AV referendum has only 42% turnout, and the welsh devolution referendum had only 36% turnout
There has been a decreased turnout in general elections from 1979 to 2019. Although it has slightly increased recently the recent trends are still alarming and show that democracy and participation is still an issue in the UK
There is not a participation crisis
There was an increase in party memberships under corbyns tinme as labour leader and Johnson’s time as conservative leader
Perhaps people are engaging in politics in other less traditional ways, for example many younger people participate through protests, petitions and pressure groups
Recently there has been a influx in voter turnout rates raising from 59.4% to now 67.3% in the 2019 general election- this is likely to rise further in the next few elections
Lowering the voting age to 16:
Arguments for
It could be argued that younger voters should be able to have a say on issues which will affect them in their lifetime, e.g climate change
Many 16 and 17 year olds are mature enough to vote , and understand the issues which will be covered in elections
In the Scottish independence referendum 16 and 17 year olds were Able to vote and there were no major issues with this
Arguments against
Nearly all 16 and 17 year olds still live with their parents so their is a risk that they may be influenced by their parents on who to vote for
Many 16 and 17 years old are not mature enough to vote and will vote alongside their friends or prehaps vote for a joke candidate
Most 16 and 17 years olds do not pay tax so should not be able to vote and make decisions on such an important issue
Online e-democracy
Arguments for
online questioning of ministers- would allow people to ask questions directly to their representative
Online campaigning would reduce costs and make it easier for people to acces information
Online voting would make it easier for people to vote
Arguments against
with digital campaigning, it would disadvantage people unable to get online
with online voting it would be difficult to monitor and ensure free votes
Online questioning of ministers would undermine the role of MP’s
Making voting compulsory
Arguments for
turnout would increase and be 100% for all elections
Represntatives would be more democratically legitimate as they receive more votes
By ensuring that more people vote, representatives are more likely to address the concerns of all parts of society
Arguements against
it could be seen as undemocratic to force people to vote if they don’t wish to
Many people who perhaps work all day or have no way to getting to a polling station will be punished
Many people would spoil their ballot in protest to being made to vote