democratic deficit
insiffucient level of democracy in institutions or government
legitimacy
right and acceptance of authority
points for there being democratic deficit
- intro of voter id
- restrictions on protest -public order act 2023 and PCCS act 2022
- participation
- electoral system
points against there being democratic deficit
- accountability and scrutiny -recall of MPs act, pmqs etc
- e petitions
- free and fair elections
- referendums
enfranchisement def
right to vote
who is disenfranchised in the UK?
- anyone under 16
- anyone who does not own an ID
- prisoners
low point of any election turnout
2001 - 59% turnout - Blair had 179 seat majority so people did not see voting as having a point
2019 election turnout
63.7%
2017 election turnout
69.1%
2015 election turnout
66.2%
2010 election turnout
65.1%
points for compulsory voting (example is australia)
- civic duty like taxes
- political participation
- legitimate result and representation of entire electorate
- manifestos can be more about issues rather than trying to convince people to vote
points against compulsory voting
- right to vote = right to not vote - takes this right away
- undemocratic
- regulation - money needs to be spent
- donkey votes - by order of ballot paper
e petitions
suggested under blair
over 10k signatures - government response
over 100k signatures - subject to parliamentary debate
largest e petition - 6.1 mil signatures in 2019 against brexit but was denied because the referendum had already happened
November 2024 - new GE 2m signatures, suggesting that e petitions are unlikely to lead change in government policy if there’s strong backing for govt in other waus
arguments for voting at 16
- pretty educated
- opposing views from aging population - their future moreso affected
- up turnout
- more democratic - more voices
- youth issues brought up more
- in Labour’s manifesto
argumants against voting at 16
- not legal adult - brain not fully developed - may not be adequately educated
- May 2023 poll - people voted against it
- do not pay tax so should not get right to vote
- may be too radical
- although was in Labour’s manifesto in 2024, not mentioned in the King’s speech. shows that it may not be a priority
for prisoner voting
- more democratic - includes minorty groups
- supports rehabilitation- gives liberty in having a political opinion
- compliance with international law such as ECHR
against prisoner voting
- rights removed as punishment of a crime committed
- public opinion opposed to it
- impractical - massive prisons, dangers of being in a small room unrestrained alone - otherwise is not private ballot
