Would you rather live in a society that did not have governmental elections?

Some arguments could certainly be made about the purposes of elections. Yes, they offer citizens a chance to democratically elect their representatives and leaders. But they also have a hand in quelling political protest – when citizens vote, they feel as if they have played their role in the political process and nothing else needs to be done, especially in places like America, where free speech and protest, as well as voting rights, have been guaranteed for as long as anyone alive can remember. Despite the possible de-politicizing of the populace, I am unequivocally in support of governmental elections.

There are very few alternatives to the election system. Elections are, fundamentally, positive to American society and society in general. Governmental elections – when conducted correctly – are a just way of conducting government. To live in a society without elections would be simply unimaginable for many Americans. That type of society would also imply a lack of free speech, which would mean a lack of dissenting voice against the government.

Despite all of the good elections do, the general apathy of the populace is a problem that needs to be dealt with. Voter turnout has stayed consistently between 50-60% for the last 50 years, which is not exceedingly low. But it is definitely not something to be desired. If America were to make changes to the voting process, it could encourage more people to go and vote. These changes could include holding elections on the weekend (which would especially help people of lower socioeconomic groups, because it would conflict with less jobs), as well as simplifying the voter registration processes. But making elections more convenient for the populace would not help with the political apathy plaguing the nation. Is it truly a result of the elections? Or is it merely a function of not having to fight for our rights, as so many citizens do in countries around the world, so we take our rights for granted? It is definitely a complicated problem without easy solutions.