essay on responsibilities of voters for the success of democracy

Essay on Importance of Voting in Democracy

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100 Words Essay on Importance of Voting in Democracy

The essence of democracy.

Voting is the cornerstone of a democracy. It’s the tool that allows citizens to choose their leaders and voice their opinions on important issues.

Why Voting Matters

By voting, you get to influence the society you live in. It’s a way to ensure that your interests are represented in government.

The Power of Each Vote

Every vote counts. In many cases, elections have been decided by just a few votes. Therefore, your vote can make a real difference.

In summary, voting is a crucial component of democracy. So, always exercise your right to vote!

250 Words Essay on Importance of Voting in Democracy

The role of voting.

Voting is not just a right, but a duty and a moral responsibility. It is the most direct and effective way of participating in the democratic process. The vote of every citizen contributes to the formation of a government and the trajectory of the nation.

Empowering the Masses

Voting gives citizens the power to express their opinion and choose leaders who align with their views. It is a tool to effect change and ensure the government reflects the will of the people. Voting also empowers marginalized groups, providing an equal platform for their voices to be heard.

Accountability and Transparency

Voting ensures accountability and transparency in the democratic system. It acts as a check on the government, reminding them of their responsibility towards the electorate. If the government fails to deliver, voters have the power to change the administration in the next election.

The importance of voting in democracy cannot be overstated. It is the fundamental right and duty of every citizen to participate in this process. It is through voting that we shape our society, influence policies, and ensure the government serves the common good. By voting, we uphold the democratic values of freedom, equality, and justice.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Voting in Democracy

Introduction.

Democracy is a system of governance where citizens participate directly or indirectly in the decision-making process. At the heart of this system lies the act of voting, an essential tool through which citizens express their will, choose their leaders, and influence public policy. The importance of voting in a democratic society cannot be overstated as it forms the basis for the exercise of political and civil rights.

The Pillar of Democratic Governance

Instrument for social change.

Voting is not only a political act but also a tool for social change. It gives citizens the power to influence public policy and the direction of societal evolution. Through the ballot box, citizens can express their views on critical issues such as education, health, economy, and social justice. Voting, therefore, serves as a peaceful means of effecting change and shaping the society we want to live in.

Equality and Inclusivity

In a democracy, voting underscores the principle of equality. Regardless of social, economic, or cultural backgrounds, every citizen has an equal vote. This inclusivity strengthens social cohesion and fosters a sense of belonging among citizens. Moreover, it ensures that marginalized and underrepresented groups have a voice in the political process, thereby promoting social equity.

Responsibility of Citizenship

In conclusion, the act of voting is a cornerstone of democracy, serving as a tool for change, a symbol of equality, and a responsibility of citizenship. It gives power to the people, ensuring that the government remains accountable and responsive to their needs. Hence, for a democracy to be truly representative and effective, it is essential that citizens understand the importance of voting and actively participate in the electoral process. The future of our democratic society depends on the collective action of informed and engaged citizens.

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Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Voting — Why Is Voting Important

Why is Voting Important

• Categories: Democracy Voting

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Published: Mar 5, 2024

Words: 591 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

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Why Voting in Democracy Is Critical

September 16, 2024.

• Professional Development and Contributions to the Field
• public policy

By Michael Bilfinger , AACRAO Assistant Director of Public Policy

Democracy is a system of government in which the state draws its power and legitimacy from the consent of its citizens. There are many different variations of democracy, and the U.S. employs a representative democracy in which citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf as opposed to directly voting on issues, as some states do in referendum votes. While not technically part of the definition of democracy, certain institutions, such as the freedom of speech and press, are critical to a democracy's function because they directly support the citizen's ability to consent to the state's rule. For a democracy to be healthy and just, all members of society, both those in the majority and in the minority, must buy into this idea of citizenry consent and uphold these virtues. 

The Landscape

Voting in a democracy is critical because it is the most direct avenue that citizens can use to express consent, the basis for their government's legitimacy, and influence laws and priorities. In the 2020 presidential election, 66 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot, according to the Pew Research Center . This was the highest U.S. voter turnout rate in a national election since 1900, and yet it still pales in comparison to the turnout rate in many other developed democracies. 

Additionally, voter registration and turnout in the U.S. is not equal across all populations. For example, the estimated voter registration rate for Asian Americans is about 9 percent lower than it is for whites, and for Latinos, the gap is roughly 13 percent, according to National Public Radio . The impacts of this can be seen on election day. For instance, 43 percent of eligible white adults voted in the 2018, 2020, and 2022 elections, whereas only 21 percent of eligible Asian Americans voted in all three and only 19 percent of eligible Latinos, according to the Pew Research Center . Furthermore, current evidence from the Brennan Center of Justice suggests that these disparities in voter turnout have been consistently widening since 2012 after having been on a downward decline since the civil rights revolution of the 1960s. All the while, polling by Gallup in June 2024 found that only 28% of Americans are satisfied with the way democracy functions, a historic low. 

But why care? With voter registration trends seemingly worsening and a general feeling amongst the public that voting doesn't actually lead to change, why bother voting? Simply put, because of the enormous impact the federal government can have on your daily life. For example, in FY 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) has thus far spent over $160 billion dollars, more than half of which $85.2 billion, went to federal direct student loan programs ( source ). This money ultimately went to higher education institutions, many of whom wouldn't exist without this funding lifeline. Additionally, as of January 2024, the Department holds $1.5 trillion in federal loans for nearly 43 million borrowers, according to the Government Accountability Office .  For comparison, the largest banks in America, J.P. Morgan, and Chase had roughly $1.3 trillion in net loans on their balance sheet for 2023 ( source ).  

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Voting in American Politics: A Syllabus

From battles to expand the franchise to the mysteries of turnout, voting is one of the most important things to understand about US politics.

Even though it’s a cornerstone of representative democracy in US politics, the right to vote expanded very slowly—and not without a fight in most cases. Today, voting is still contested, as some states have limited the franchise through redistricting, closing polling places, requiring official ID to vote, and other means.

Every time we get ready for an election, voting is on our minds. But those thoughts can be vague and lack historical and political context. With this syllabus, we hope to provide motivation to learn more—and to turn out!

Elections and Power

Voting and governing are different things, but both entail power. Our election system reflects that, but elections themselves can be convoluted processes in themselves.

What Makes Us Vote the Way We Do?

Why Do We Vote by Secret Ballot?

Electoral College 101

Time for Reform of the Electoral College?

Is Gerrymandering to Blame for Our Polarized Politics?

Enfranchisement Is the Only Route to Security

Do You Trust Your Democratic Representatives?

Why Do They Build Party Platforms, Anyway?

Just How Unrepresentative Are the Iowa Caucuses?

The Accidental Presidents of the United States

The Midterms That Changed America

“It’s the psychology, stupid.” What really decides elections?

Ballot Position: It Matters

Fighting for the right to vote.

It took a Civil War for Black men to get the right to vote. Millions were enfranchised when women got the vote in 1920, but Black women were mostly excluded from voting due to legal discrimination. Removing these injustices took both organizing and militance.

Suppressing the Black Vote in 1811

The Voting Rights Act at 50

Susan B. Anthony on Her Revolutionary Foremothers

The Dorr Rebellion for Voting Rights

Suppressing Native American Voters

Free Love and the First Female Presidential Nominee

The Significance of Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign

New Jersey Let (Some) Women Vote from 1776 to 1807

Revisiting Reconstruction

Race Has Always Affected the Vote

How Women’s Suffrage Has Been Represented in American Film

The Voting Rights Act 1965: Annotated

Voting Rights for People Convicted of Felonies

Who are voters.

Political scientists puzzle over the question for good reason: understanding voters, and voting, provides the kind of knowledge that can help citizens access the polls and exercise the kind of power that voting gives them.

How to Get People to Vote

Creating the Voter Fraud Myth

The Case for Lowering the Voting Age

Would Formerly Incarcerated People Vote Democratic?

How Class Conflicts Determine Voter Turnout

Who Are the Independent Voters?

Lawrence Lessig: How to Repair Our Democracy

Editors’ Note: This post was originally published on August 6, 2020. It has been updated many times, most recently on September 18, 2024.

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Voting is a civic duty

Our right to vote is hard-won. It took centuries of struggle to establish this right — for property-less men, for women, for African Americans, and, in 1971, for all US citizens over the age of 18.  The right to vote is fundamental to protecting, asserting and defining many of our other rights. Almost all of the social and economic rights Americans enjoy today — from Medicare and Medicaid, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Clean Air Act — exist because citizens elected public officials who voted to enact them.

But low numbers of American citizens exercise their right to vote, and, unfortunately, Stanford students are no exception. According to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE), only 48.1% of eligible Stanford undergraduates, graduates and post-doctoral fellows voted in the 2016 Presidential election. NSLVE calculated that less than 20% voted in the 2014 mid-term elections.

As the three deans responsible for overseeing the education of the largest number of Stanford’s students, including all of its undergraduates, we write to urge you, regardless of your political affiliation , to register and to exercise your right to vote.

Here, we offer 5 main reasons for voting:

• We build our democracy with votes. Through our votes, we express what we as citizens think is in our collective interests; we empower officials to act in our name to promote those interests.
• It’s the power of the vote that keeps our elected officials accountable.
• If only some people vote, elected officials are likely to give less weight to the interests and views of non-participants. Studies show that young voters, along with citizens with lower levels of income and education, are less likely to vote.
• It is sometimes said that no one’s vote makes a decisive difference. But each person’s vote makes our democracy more representative of the will of its citizens. In close local elections, small numbers of votes can be decisive.
• Our country (and our world) face significant challenges that require the action of government: climate change, inequality, global conflict, terrorism and poverty. Individual action, however well motivated, cannot compare to what can be accomplished by the actions of large state institutions. As a citizen it is essential for you to vote on the basis of your informed views about those candidates who offer the best public policy responses to these challenges.

It is easy to register, in whichever state you are entitled to vote: stanford.turbovote.org

Of course, you can certainly do more — along with others, including U.S. immigrants who do not have the right to vote — to help to make our society and our world better. We do not mean to suggest that the only way for you to be involved in questions of public concern is by means of a vote. But it is a way, and perhaps the most important way.

So, vote for the party and candidate of your choice, but by all means vote.

—  Debra Satz , Dean of Humanities and Sciences,  Jennifer Widom , Dean of Engineering,  Stephan Graham , Dean of Earth, Energy and Environmental Resources

The Daily is committed to publishing a diversity of op-eds and letters to the editor. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Email letters to the editor to eic ‘at’ stanforddaily.com and op-ed submissions to opinions ‘at’ stanforddaily.com.

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