Elections, Participation and the Public

1. Elections, Participation and the Public Considering Democracy July 15th 2013

2. Finding Democratic Legitimacy • Democratic ideal: “the ultimate source of political power is the people” • Through free discussion and debate, decision made by more than 50% of ‘the people’ • Reality, of course, is quite different • Lack of barriers to participation different than providing the tools to participate meaningfully • Review: • Direct democracy; Representative democracy • Elections and informed participation

3. Elections! • Elections: expression of the people of whom should govern • Legitimacy: ‘degree to which citizens accept the actions…of government [and] state actors’ • Democratic Legitimacy • Turn out rates?

4. Elections! Cont… • Holding governments account • rewards, punishments, alternatives • In a democracy, elections MUST be regular, competitive and effective • Competitive electoral systems require: • open franchise (no means testing) • freedom of assembly (political parties) • freedom from intimidation and violence • secret balloting • fairness

5. What about Fairness? • Transparency • Equal access to media • Impartial Election Commission • Impartial Ballots • Transparent Ballot Counting • Protection of Polling Stations • Timely review of complaints • Timely announcement of Results • Fair coverage of results in media • Acceptance of outcomes

6. Elections: What are they Good for? • Bottom-up view (positive): Opportunity for citizens to impact policy and the direction of the country • Top-Down view (negative): Opportunity for government to quiet dissent, legitimate an unresponsive political system • Middle view: An opportunity for party elites and citizens a venue to exchange ideas

7. Functions of Elections • Choosing a government (sort of…) • Holding government to account (sometimes) • The election of representatives (but what do they represent?) • Substantive vs Descriptive Representation • Legitimacy (to a degree…) • Obeying vs dissent • Mandates (sometimes...) • Education and socialization (okay, I’ll give you that one…but…)

8. Elections in the Media • Primary source of information for public • Concentration of ownership • ‘Horse race’ has become dominant style of coverage • Sound-byte politics • Image politics

9. Free and Fair Sure, but what about Rules? • Electoral financing ‘rules • Canada – capped political donations, capped spending; parties and third party advertisers • US, less so (2002; 2010) • Limits derived from concept of ‘equity’ and fairness • Money = Speech/Expression? • Rep by Pop – seats in legislature equally divided across population • Equal weighting of votes • Gerrymandering and independent commissions

10. Electoral Systems • Non-Proportional • FPTP (Canada, US, UK) • Majoritarian • Majority (France-President), Plurality (France – Leg), Alternative (Australia – House of Reps) • Proportional • List System (Israel) • STV (Ireland; Australia - Senate) • Mixed Systems • MMP (Germany, New Zealand)

11. Primary Differences in Function and Outcomes • The primary goal of non-proportional system is to emphasize local candidate • Pluralities usually win • Vote % and seat % are not = • Wasted votes • Works best in 2 party system (own problems) • The primary goal of PR systems is to have a proportional outcome • vote % = seats % • Multi-member districts • Fewer wasted votes (thresholds) • Less focus on local (districts much larger) • Formula: total number of votes (+1) total number of seats +1

12. Primary Differences in Function and Outcomes Cont… • The primary goal of Mixed Member Proportional systems are to emphasize the positives of both, while limiting negatives. • Local candidates • More proportionality • Fewer wasted votes • More parties • Regional emphasis too

13. Three Voting Models • Why do people vote and why do they vote the way they do? • Sociological model • Socialization, political identity • Psycho-social model • Socialization, political identity • Party identity • Rational model • The rational evaluation of alternatives • Framing issues, irrational behaviour?

14. Political Participation • Political Participation: “actions taken by individuals and groups in an attempt to influence political decisions and…decision-makers.” – O’Neill • High levels of participation are indicative of strong democracies • Types of participation: Individual, organizational, professional

15. The Edge’s of Political Participation • Civil Disobedience • Blockades • Terrorism • Violence, FLQ • What is participation, though? • Voting? • Activism? • Local ethnocultural associations? • Talking politics?

16. Least Shocking Statistics Ever! • The more work participation requires of citizens, the less likely they are to participate • In part, this can explain low American turnout • Important variables that impact participation, age, gender, class and political attitudes • Apathy, alienation • Putnam! • Nevitte: a shift in sites of political participation?

17. How Much Political Participation do we want? • Some argue political disinterest is beneficial • Other argue a highly informed and interested electorate is best • Build tolerance, appreciation, rationality with informed participation • E-government and E-democracy a revolution in participation? • Wide spread access, potential for direct democracy? • Digital divide, Ageism, Classism, means testing? • Effective, informed participation?

18. Direct Democracy • Few countries use direct democracy regularly, but many have some variants • Referendums/Plebiscites • States in the US, BC, Canada for Constitutional Matters, the EU for major Constitutional Matters • Initiative • BC, California • Recall • BC, California