IRELAND’S GENERAL election campaign for the 31st Dáil has coincided with the dramatic movement for democratisation of authoritarian regimes in North Africa and the Middle East. It is as if to warn us not to take our votes for granted. If democracy is properly valued they will be used actively by citizens rather than casually assumed. Following such a traumatic period in our economic affairs and confronting one of the greatest political challenges this State has ever faced it would be a great shame if these lessons were disregarded by those who decide not to vote.
Today 3.2 million Irish citizens are entitled to vote. Official returns show turnout in general elections declined since 1981 by about 13 percentage points, having held steady from 1969 to 1981 at about 76 per cent. In 2007 it rose to 67 per cent from the lowest point recorded in 2002, partly because of improvements in the electoral register. That national average concealed wide variations among constituencies but overall Ireland has one of the lowest turnouts among the 27 member states of the European Union.
Some voters abstain for circumstantial reasons because they can’t get to the poll on the day, while others do so voluntarily because they are not interested, believe voting makes no difference or have lost trust in politicians. There are marked social class, rural-urban and age differences between voters and abstainers. Much more can and should be done to encourage greater participation by illiterate, poorer and otherwise disadvantaged people who lose out even more as a result, while students away from home and people working awkward hours also deserve more consideration. This election campaign has concentrated attention as never before on political reform. Maintaining that pressure after the election should include efforts to facilitate and mobilise higher voting turnout. Recent emigrants are also deprived of this right, unlike nearly all other European states.
For the two-thirds or more of the electorate who will vote today the stakes have rarely been higher in terms of living standards, employment security, capable leadership, economic competitiveness or Ireland’s international position and standing. Despite the huge constraints on our sovereignty imposed by last November’s EU-IMF bailout agreement voters have been offered clear choices between different policies in the campaign. They have had the opportunity to assess the alternative parties and leaders, and judge their capabilities, preparedness and coherence. Opinion polling shows preferences emerging for strong and stable government, despite the collapse of support for Fianna Fáil.
Ireland is a mature democracy capable of tackling these grave challenges. Our political system and culture give voters much more access to politicians than elsewhere, during and between election campaigns. There is undoubtedly ample scope to improve how they function by political reform in the next Dáil term. But that promise will ring hollow indeed if citizens fail to exercise their right to vote today.