In the US 2020 presidential elections voter turnout “soared to levels not seen in decades,” or 62.8% of the electorate. In the 2022 midterms this figure dropped to 52.2%. And while the United States fancies itself the beacon of democracy there are 30 other countries -including Uruguay (94.9%), Brazil (74.1%), and India (67.4%)- achieving higher voter turnout. The predominant question while judging a democracy’s efficacy is “How many people vote?,” and America’s shortfall in this regard demonstrates a disregard of participation in our inaccessible electoral processes. I offer four legislative remedies to revive our democracy by increasing voter turnout. 

1. Require a “None-of-the-Above” (NOTA) Category

A glaring reason why voter turnout is so dismal is the repeatedly lamentable selection of candidates. There should be a ‘NOTA’ option for every position (like Nevada) so rather than choosing the least-worst candidate citizens could use their vote to express general candidate dissatisfaction. Resultant percentages would be publicised with a high percentage of NOTA votes being a referendum on elected politicians who falsely believe they represent the will of the electorate. 

2. Digitise voting

Current technology exists to engineer safe, secure elections with decentralised and digitised voting- this transition is not a question of if, but when. Implementing this correctly requires legislation enacting a national voting registrar with processes safeguarding voter identity and thwarting cyber attacks. Ambiguity regarding miscounted or unacceptable ballots would be a non-issue and barriers-to-vote would disappear. Eventually we’ll reflect amusedly about voting in middle school gyms and punching holes in paper ballots. 

3. Abolish the Electoral College

It’s fittingly ironic that self-declared populist Donald Trump won the White House because of the Electoral College and without receiving the majority of the popular vote. A true populist candidate would support removal of the Electoral College because the underlying argument of populism is every vote counting equally. Unfortunately the Electoral College is swallowed in partisan debate and the current system ensures Wyoming voters have 3x the power of California voters, which is inherently undemocratic. The Electoral College also stifles participation as turnout from both parties is only incentivised in battleground states. 

4. Penalise Non-Voting Government Employees

For all positions remunerated by the federal government the employer should (prospectively) weigh voter turnout history for job applicants and employees. Anyone neglecting their civic duty of voting and expecting a tax dollar financed salary should be viewed substandardly. 

I firmly believe that producing the country’s best ideas requires more political participation, not less. It is a stain on our democracy that barriers-to-vote are increasing and popular legislation is being stifled. If the US is content flirting with an oligarchical status we should continue restricting voting and prioritising special interests; effectively empowering influential voices to outweigh the masses. But if we seek to reverse course and revive our democracy, legislation is necessary to promote accessible and egalitarian voting. While admittedly this is no easy endeavour, I implore you to ask why such a stance is contentious in the first place.