Kristen Gyles | The disillusioned 21

Question: What would it take to get you to vote in the upcoming elections? Answer: Nothing.

Many cynics will have a lot to say about this one. In the latest survey conducted by pollster Don Anderson, 21 per cent of respondents said that nothing could motivate them to vote in the upcoming local government elections. The survey was conducted from November 24 to December 7 and included only registered voters.

Just to highlight, an individual stating that nothing can now be done to get them to vote in the upcoming elections doesn’t mean nothing could have ever been done. At this point, a matter of weeks prior to the expected announcement of the election date, anything done supposedly to woo Jamaicans is likely to be seen for what it is and will likely be too little too late. As expected, some respondents suggested they had never voted simply because political candidates have a habit of making their appearance only at the eleventh hour.

On the other hand, nine per cent of the respondents in the survey said they would vote if infrastructural improvements were made in their communities, such as improvements in electricity and water delivery. Nine per cent also said they would vote if their representatives came around more. The political parties are probably glad to know that there is still time to make a last impression on some voters.

But, the focus here is on the disillusioned 21.

There is a stern but stimulating old hymn often sung when I am in church. It starts, “The judgment has set, the books have been opened”… and continues … “How shall we stand in that great day? How shall we stand in that great day? Shall we be found before Him wanting? Or with our sins all washed away?”

NO SURPRISE

It’s no surprise this song popped into my head while I contemplated how every election cycle, the political actors seem to roll out their charismatic speeches and calculated schemes to win over the hearts and minds of Jamaicans. But, the 21 per cent has tried the case and both parties have been found wanting. Nothing can now be done to change their minds because they have seen and heard enough, and unlike the wise old hymn intimates, there is no chance the sins of either party have been or will ever be washed away or forgotten. Unfulfilled election promises sometimes have that effect on voters.

Another fact of the matter is that for some, the decision not to vote is a result of issues deeply ingrained within the electoral system. A resistance towards participating in the electoral process doesn’t always have anything to do with the political parties themselves.

For example, our weird political system creates a dilemma for many voters, whether in local government elections or in national elections. What is the average Jamaican expected to do exactly when the more visible and hard-working candidate within their division, or constituency, as the case may be, does not represent the party they really want to win the election? If voting for Bob the Builder means I’ll start getting water in my dry pipe, Bob is likely to get my vote. But if voting for Bob also means his good-for-nothing party is more likely to be running the country, I might think twice.

Voters should not have to vote for underperforming candidates in order to try their hand at putting their preferred party in power.

EXACERBATED

This issue is exacerbated given a climate in which some of our political representatives show a clear lack of respect and regard for virtually anyone who could remotely be associated with the ‘other party’.

Every now and again there are bitter disagreements between councillors and their MPs, whether over inadequate consultations before the commencement of infrastructural projects or just misaligned perspectives on what taxpayers’ funds should be used for. We all know councillors and MPs should be working together, but the fact is, in many cases, they don’t. Instead, it seems the emerging norm is for councillors to threaten to resign because of friction between themselves and MPs or MP caretakers.

Furthermore, it seems the lines of demarcation between the remit of the councillor and that of the MP need clarifying. But that is another conversation.

In the minds of more than a few, the apathy towards electoral participation is partly because so many elements of the electoral system are counterintuitive and do not give voters the power they want and deserve. The current electoral system needs a total overhaul, but unfortunately, those with the power to make the necessary changes have no personal benefit to gain from said changes, so it is a wonder whether anything will change.

Anyway, back to the 21. It’s worth reiterating that these people are registered voters. These are people who likely either had an intention to vote at some point or were once open to the prospect of voting. They are not against casting a vote under this electoral system. They are just disheartened. The upcoming election might not be for them, but with the right changes, future elections might be.

Kristen Gyles is a free-thinking public affairs opinionator. Send feedback to kristengyles@gmail.com