Democracy requires the participation of the many — what happens if this is not the case?
Elections are a foundational building block in any democracy. Yet, in Oklahoma, far too many eligible voters do not vote, which leaves decisions that directly affect their communities, state and future in the hands of a small portion of the population. According to a University of Florida report, Oklahoma had the lowest turnout rate in the nation for the 2024 general election, at 53.46%. This statistic signals that democracy is not functioning as it should, raising questions about how well election results reflect the preferences of the broader public.
The reasons behind these numbers include a lack of competitive races, barriers to voting, low motivation to vote and disillusionment amongst voters. According to Ballotpedia, a majority of Oklahoma’s elections in 2024 were uncontested, making voting seem like a pointless endeavor. This year’s midterms heavily favor the Republican Party, reflecting a broader trend in Oklahoma politics where contested elections are often won by the GOP. This contributes to voter disillusionment. Senior exercise sports science major Drew Lam understands this well. “I think a lot of people have a defeatist mindset of, ‘oh, my vote doesn’t matter,’” they explained. Lam believes this mindset begets more low turnout. “The reason sometimes that votes don’t matter is because there are other people who have the same thought, who think my vote doesn’t matter … and that spreads, and then you have super low voter turnout.” Lam also pointed to voter disillusionment. “People [are] just becoming very disappointed with how things are and [are] getting really burnt out on the political nature of things.” Sophomore mathematics major and education minor Adrian Warwick has a different explanation. “I think it’s so low because the population understands that corporate-backed politicians don’t have the working class’s best interests at heart,” he said. “What incentive is there for someone to vote if it’s one corporate shill versus the other?” Warwick’s comments reflect a broader trend in public resentment of money in politics, with candidates across the nation pledging not to take corporate Political Action Committee money.
Some potential voters find it difficult to prioritize voting because of work, school or family obligations. For people working long shifts, working multiple jobs or caring for young children, finding time to vote can be a real challenge. Transportation, limited work flexibility and a lack of knowledge about voting procedures can create even more obstacles. The frustrations and reasoning behind low turnout are real, and addressing low turnout requires understanding them rather than blaming voters for staying home. Nevertheless, low turnout can exacerbate the problems that discourage participation. When fewer people vote, a smaller segment of the population decides who holds political power. The concerns of those who do not vote are overlooked, creating a cycle where people feel disconnected from a government they have a very little role in choosing. Voting offers an opportunity to break this cycle, especially at the local level. Elections determine who shapes state and local policies that affect Oklahomans each and every day. Decisions about public education, healthcare and infrastructure have consequences that extend beyond election day and have a significant influence on people’s lives.
Of course, voting alone does not guarantee that a preferred candidate will win or that elected officials will fulfill their promises. Nor should citizens be ridiculed for not enthusiastically participating in a system that has failed them. However, disengagement provides no real positive improvement. Elections will continue regardless of who participates, and choosing not to vote means giving up an opportunity to influence the outcome. Improving voter turnout requires collective effort and will not be easy. It will require a multitude of small changes — some of which could include making election day a federal holiday or changing campaign finance laws — to create a social and political shift. These must involve restoring trust between voters and elected officials, as well as making voting more accessible.
Ultimately, Oklahoma’s low voter turnout should be a call to action rather than an excuse to attack those who do not vote. Democracy depends on citizens having the opportunity and motivation to participate — recognizing barriers to voting is the first step in overcoming them. “I think that we just need to all encourage one another to vote more,” says Lam. “I think a lot of people, especially on the left, are very scared and feel very beaten down about things … you can change that if you go and vote for who you believe in.” The simplest way to participate in the political process is to vote, so please, do your civic duty: go out and vote!
