How does low voter turnout affect a democracy?

Low voter turnout has a significant impact on the representativeness of a democracy. When only a small percentage of eligible voters participate in elections, it can result in a situation where the elected officials do not accurately reflect the views and needs of the entire population. This leads to unrepresentative results because the voices of those who did not vote—often comprising various demographics, including young people, low-income individuals, and marginalized communities—are excluded from the decision-making process. Consequently, policies and laws created may not address the concerns of these groups, potentially leading to feelings of disenfranchisement and further reducing participation in future elections.

High turnout is often associated with a more engaged and representative electorate, while low turnout can skew results towards the preferences of specific groups who are more likely to vote, often those who are older, more affluent, or politically active. This highlights the importance of voter engagement and the need for measures to encourage participation across all demographic groups to ensure a truly representative democracy.