The General Elections in our country are approaching. We examined why half of citizens refuse to vote, and why many no longer believe in democracy, using the excuse that they cannot change anything anyway. Aside from dividing the political spoils, the future government is expected to present a concrete program that prioritizes existential and social issues. Voting is both a right and a duty for every citizen, and those who choose not to vote have no right to criticize – because their abstention is what elected the government for the new term.
How to make decisions in an atmosphere of distrust, apathy, and ultimately, for whose benefit– political analysts point out. For the upcoming elections in October, the new technologies should be a lifeline, but citizens remain divided:
Yes, of course, citizens’ duty.
Never in my right mind. Pure self-interest. Nothing for the country, only for private pockets.
Threatening election integrity, the perception that all politicians are the same, political cynicism, voter apathy, and ultimately, whether by accident or design, emigration- these are just some of the reasons for low voter turnout. Is there hope?
“That perception must be changed, and as long as we don’t vote, we won’t achieve meaningful progress,” said Nevzet Veladžić, a sociologist and professor at the UNBI Faculty of Law.
Ultimately, achieving fair elections remains an open question, as does the structure of those who vote and those voted for.
“The low number of young people who really vote and the fact that, unfortunately, the election campaign machinery deployed by the ruling parties, handling resources controlled by institutions, essentially forces all those who are employed in the public sector to vote for specific political options,” said Ivana Korajlić, Executive Director of Transparency International of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is a vicious circle that demands a shift. In that circle, with the same narrative and no concrete steps on the ground between citizens and the ruling elite, only one side profits.
“The ruling parties benefit from this, of course, as they draw upon their safe voter base – people who are bribed, coerced, or are true supporters of political parties,” Korajlić added.
The story does not end there, analysts point out. The power of the individual does not lie only in the ballot, but in their civic engagement, which over time must foster an environment in which fair elections are the norm, and not a subject of debate.
