Low voter turnout—I

Despite New York’s dazzling diversity and democratic vibrancy, the 2025 mayoral election revealed a paradox at the heart of American democracy. The bustling and dynamic city, long reputed as one of the world’s most politically aware metropolises, had approximately 5.1 million registered voters, yet only 2,055,921 cast their ballots. The Democratic Party’s Zohran Mamdani bagged 1,036,051 votes, Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo secured 854,955, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa obtained 146,137. The turnout stood at a modest 39 percent.

Even In a city celebrated globally as a symbol of civic freedom, rights and awareness, more than three million eligible voters chose silence over participation. Hillary Clinton remarked that “more people voted in New York’s election this year than they have in 50 years,” yet this still means that in awakened New York-like many cities in Pakistan- elections were marred by low turnout. Both Mamdani’s and Cuomo’s tallies account for less than the New York’s 5.1 million registered voters. More than three million New Yorkers either supported minor candidates or stayed home—their voices absent from the ballot box.

This reveals a crucial weakness of electoral democracy, even in advanced societies. Does a numerical victory truly confer moral or representative legitimacy? The claim to a broader mandate appears tenuous. In a city as diverse and globally emblematic as New York, such figures expose a deeper disconnect between leadership and the lived realities of millions. This signals a troubling reality: in both developed and developing democracies, disillusionment and fatigue are weakening the link between citizens and the state.

It is no less than a surprise that elections in America, too, are marred by low turnouts. We in Pakistan are similarly plagued by the same malaise. The last general elections, held in February 2024, saw a turnout of less than 50 percent. In 2018, it was 51 percent, and in 2013, 55.02 percent. This means that only half of Pakistan’s voter base came out to cast their votes in the past two elections, while the other half remained silent. Ideally, the turnout should range between 75 percent and 80 percent to ensure broader and more credible representation. But the trend continues to decline — and that is alarming.

A 50 percent turnout means that an equal number of citizens have chosen not to exercise their right to franchise. In other words, a numerical win leaves nearly half the population unrepresented — a major flaw and drawback of electoral democracy. This calls for concerted efforts to increase voter participation. Turnout is a vital ingredient of democracy; it remains the surest sign of a healthy, vibrant, and flourishing political system.

(To be continued tomorrow)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025