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It is the right of every citizen in my country who is eighteen years of age or older to be registered as a voter and to be allowed to cast their vote for their chosen candidate during every election exercise in the country. But as much as something is right, one should understand that nothing can be done by force in this world; it is a person’s good to participate and exercise their rights to choose who should lead them, but it can never be forced on a person to do so.
People should rather be made to understand that participation in every election is essential in shaping the country, the way it is governed and by whom it is governed, so that we can hold them responsible while we also know that we have done our part towards good and accountable leadership.
A person who knows that food is important for their survival always makes sure that they look for food to eat, especially when they are hungry. When you see a person who is hungry and still won't look for food to eat, or who, when given food, refuses to eat, you will only think that there is a possibility that the person may have some health issue.
Citizens should not be forced to vote before they know it is expected of them. Just like I said in the above paragraph, citizens who are tired of a certain mode of government will, in their right senses, participate in the act of choosing who they want to lead them, just like the way a hungry person looks for food when they are hungry, an aggravated person who is not satisfied with the ruling processes will participate in the choice making if the person is not ill in some way.
On the other hand, if a government involves its citizens and always takes them along in its ruling processes, the citizens will have the feeling that casting their votes for a good government like that is worth the stress; in this case, the people will voluntarily come out in mass to vote without being forced to vote.
People who do not participate in the voting process usually feel or believe that their votes do not count. A country that always has low turnouts in elections or a declining number of voters during every election is not trusted by the electorate to hold a free, fair and credible election. Citizens do not feel that their votes are protected and their voices are heard through elections. We have seen cases of rigging of elections, stealing of ballot boxes, intimidation during election processes by paid thugs, where people do not trust their safety if they choose to go out to vote; the effect is a low turnout of the electorate.
People will still not come out to vote if forced, if they believe that the election process is flawed. What the government can do instead to encourage increased voter participation, among many others, is to protect their votes and conduct a free and credible election during every election at every polling unit.
The government should also ensure good governance; if the government in power does well for the period of their serving, people will come out in mass to support them to run for another term in order to give them a shot at doing more for the people.
People will come out to participate in the electoral process if they believe and feel that their vote counts. Voting can only thrive on trust and not by coercion.
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