Democracy, created in Ancient Athens which stands for “Power of the people”, is the most recognized political system to ever exist in the history of politics. People express their opinion by voting. Voting in politics is, by definition, the process in which citizens express their opinion by electing candidates that embody their own political view. Yet today, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), global votes have decreased by 65.2% since 2008. In this article, we shall tackle the reason behind such a decline and why voting is a necessity.

As mentioned previously, voting is the “power of the people” in a democratic system. According to such a statement, it is impossible to think that anyone would pass up the opportunity to have their voice heard. However, many reasons have contributed to this decline in global vote since 2008. First and foremost, psychologically, there is always a specific mentality in the global population that “my vote won’t matter”. People believe that since there are a vast number of citizens voting, their own voice won’t make the difference. Secondly, some people have actually lost faith in their representatives or the political leaders that govern their country like Lebanon for example. Moreover, people are beginning to be disinterested in the aspect of participating in general elections due to the constant tensions and the problems that are occurring. Even on the scale of universities, elections of the “Amicale” in the pharmacy faculty at Saint Joseph University of Beirut have seen 21% of students reluctant to vote. There are many more factors that contributed to this decline. Nonetheless, despite all these reasons, voting is a necessity. 

Democracy is the only legal and legitimate form of governance that gives the people a chance to be heard. In contrast, other political regimes, such as dictatorships, remove this opportunity by censoring liberties and opinions. Even if people don’t see individuals representing their political beliefs, there is still the option of the white vote (voting for no one). Even if citizens have voted for nobody, this is still a form of voting, of letting their voice be heard, and of letting the representatives know that their convictions are not appreciated. In response to people believing that their vote won’t matter, it was 361 votes compared to 360 that sealed the fate of Louis XVI by favoring his execution in 1793. One vote changes all. Abstaining from voting will lead to others making decisions that will affect everyone’s lives. The death of Louis XVI has led France to become a republic. Today, France is still a republic. One vote always matters.

In conclusion, democracy has given people the opportunity to make sure everyone’s voices are heard. As late president of the United States, John F. Kennedy claimed, “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all”. In whatever election you have next, remember that you have a right to vote, so make sure your voice is heard.