It Counts but It Makes No Difference!

It’s often been debated whether voting carries the impact necessary to have a significant effect on the outcome of any given subject. Voting generally speaking is an effective resolution for relatively small matters to be resolved in which the information is simple enough for people to fully understand what it they are voting for.

For example where a family of five votes to decide whether they go somewhere in particular or what to eat, the decision is clear, misunderstanding is unlikely given the clarity of the situation.

However, on a much grander scale, votes of a political nature have a much less likelihood of a clear and concise understanding relevant to what the choices represent, whether it be a referendum or a new leader, the sizable scale and relevant information make it so the outcome is unlikely to be affected.

Let’s explore a few extremely important variables as to why this is the case.

In order to cast a vote that actually matters, one must have enough relevant information about the subject at hand to be able to do so. So in instances where a vote is cast for a new leader, the usual protocol is for two candidates to be presented to the people with a set of information for both and for the people to decide by vote who should be awarded the position.

Interestingly, it is NOT possible for the people casting the vote to know ALL the necessary information they need to know to make an informed decision. Whatever information is put forward is usual from either sides political in an effort to make them seem like the appropriate candidate, using emotionally stimulating tactics in an effort to control the flow of votes.

Additionally, when it comes to votes, given the amount of people that actually vote, it is not possible to the people who voted to verify whether that exactly how the votes went. We have to go on faith that the reported outcome of the votes was as stated, without question.

Another interesting point to consider is that votes are not cast on everything of importance to the people, there are a lot of rules, laws and procedures that are simply put in place and the public are informed that it is happened. Whilst to an extent this is understandable, in cases where the rule and regulations impede privacy or offer opportunities for the government to exploit the public for financial gain, one cannot help but wonder why a vote was never offered.

Ultimately this simply highlights that whilst votes count, they do not matter, between the limited information that people have to go on before casting a vote and the time it would take for people to become fully aware of what they are voted for, voting at best is a motion that allows people to feel validated and important as a “valued member” of society.

Ironically this seems to be the main reason people vote in the first place, not because they actual know what they are talking about, but it’s more to do with a sense of moral validation that they have performed their civic duty in helping decide a political matter, coupled with the idea that voting actually makes a difference to the outcome.

The debate of whether voting actually matters will probably continue to go on for quite some time, backed by the idea of a false sense of importance and the comforting thought that we actually help to shape what happens, but in retrospect we will have to eventually see that our vote, much like our hourly labour, amounts to very little.