Ethical Challenges Lecture 2023 Event

The Expressive Duty to Vote

A well known paradox, in the theory of voting, notes that each citizen is overwhelmingly unlikely to make a difference, via her vote, to the winning outcome; moreover, voting is costly; in addition, given that public governance is an non-excludable public good, an abstaining citizen will in any case enjoy its benefits. Under those conditions, it is irrational of her to vote.

A standard response notes that citizens do not merely or even mainly vote because and in the belief that their vote is likely to make a difference to the overall outcome. Rather, they derive benefits from the act of voting itself - in particular, the benefit of expressing their views on the options on offer and of manifesting their political or social identity. Once we take into account the expressive value, to the individual voter, of voting, casting one's vote even though one knows that one is overwhelmingly likely not to make any difference at all to the outcome is not irrational after all.

In this lecture, Professor Cécile Fabre deploys the expressive theory of voting in the service of an argument in favour of the moral duty to vote. She argues that individuals are under a general moral duty to express their commitment to justice and democracy; qua citizens, they are under a moral duty to do so by voting accordingly when called upon to do so, subject to certain conditions.

Furthermore, even if as a result of those conditions not being met they are morally permitted not to vote, it does not follow that they are morally permitted to abstain: sometimes, casting a spoilt ballot is, on expressive grounds, the right thing to do. Once one frames the act of voting as a form of expression in general, and of counterspeech in particular, one can accept that citizens can be under a moral duty to vote (that is, to cast a valid vote), or to take part in the poll though spoiling their ballot, irrespective of whether or not they will thereby succeed at establishing and maintaining just and democratic institutions.

Event Information

Guests can join this event in person at Avenue Campus, University of Southampton.

We encourage guests to register at your earliest opportunity as spaces are strictly limited.

If you have any questions about this event please contact fahevent@soton.ac.uk .