Political Liberty and the Power of a Vote

By Deputy Current Affairs Editor Kate’O Hanlon

The concept of democracy famously began in Athens circa 508 BC. While politicians are often photographed in front of the Parthenon temple due to its synonymy with fair government and constitution, the not so egalitarian roots of democracy are often overshadowed by the spectacle of modern politics. From only 10% of the Athenian population being permitted a vote to women in most parts of the world only gaining the right to vote in the 20th century, the concept of all citizens being free to vote in an election that determines the fate of their country is a relatively new one which still isn’t guaranteed to people in some parts of the world. But how secure is the vote and by proxy the voter in the 21st century?

When former President Trump lost the 2020 election, his supporters stormed the Capitol while he publicly cast aspersions on the validity of the election. Ironically, Trump himself sought to interfere with the proper certification of votes by Congress. Vice President Pence said that "President Trump demanded that I {-} essentially overturn the election by returning or literally rejecting votes.” Trump is running for President this year for the third time after being impeached twice. The fact that a man who tried to undermine democracy itself is allowed to take such an active role in government makes it difficult to believe that the vote of an individual is in any way important. The removal of political opposition is also becoming more commonplace. There are many cases in just the last few months where people who ran for office were unjustly taken out of the race to further the agendas of other politicians, which does not reflect the will of the people and makes systems like democratic voting seem obsolete. Recent events like Navalny's wrongful imprisonment and subsequent death in early 2024 or the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023 highlights the kinds of malversation that prevents other candidates from getting involved in political affairs. This gives people no alternative representatives to vote for, leaving them with no voice in both public and democratic policy which in turn leads to the perpetuation of the will of corrupt and unjust administrations. The lack of choice in candidates and precarious nature of the vote itself makes our current democracy seem like a chimera, which leads to some citizens choosing not to vote altogether. 

This is disastrous as when citizens choose not to vote they are not taking advantage of their own political autonomy, which unfortunately is not a guaranteed right everywhere in the world. An individual's vote is important because it directly contributes to the democratic process. Each vote helps to represent the preferences and interests of the electorate, ensuring that all voters' viewpoints are considered in a government's decision-making process. Voting is one of the best ways for citizens to participate in governance, influence the allocation of resources and hold elected officials accountable for their actions. Choosing to vote doesn't just influence the policies in your own country but has a domino effect on an international level. The people you choose to endorse with your vote could detract from your liberty just as easily as they could advocate for it. When state politicians deal with international affairs they can help to shape global policies which can affect anything from tax policies to human rights laws. Seeing as our modern democracy is still relatively new, every vote cast essentially goes towards shaping the mores of the system. That’s why, even when you feel like you have no freedom in your choice of candidate, it is important to choose the one that most accurately reflects your own values. This in turn may ensure safer voting systems both in your own country and globally. While voting systems and the people that uphold them can fall victim to various forms of corruption, it is also one of the only ways for people in the 21st century to exercise their own political freedom. If you have the power to cast a vote without being constrained by corruption or the threat of violence, it is your moral obligation to vote as you see fit, because your vote is a part of the constitution of global politics.