An Epistemic Justification for the Obligation to Vote. Issue 2 (2nd April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maskivker, Julia
• Is Part Of: Critical review. Volume 28:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 224
• Page End: 247
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02
• Subjects: Condorcet jury theorem -- duty to vote -- miracle of aggregation -- rational ignorance -- rational irrationality; Libertarianism -- United States -- Periodicals; 320.512
• DOI: 10.1080/08913811.2016.1191183
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-3811

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Received wisdom in most democracies is that voting should be seen as a political freedom that citizens have a right to exercise at their discretion. But I propose that we have a duty to vote, albeit a duty to vote well: with knowledge and a sense of impartiality. Fulfillment of this obligation would contribute to the epistemic advantages of democracy, and would thereby instantiate the duty to promote and support just institutions.