An Epistemic Case for Positive Voting Duties. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klijnman, Carline
• Is Part Of: Critical review. Volume 33:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: epistemic democracy -- voting ethics -- Condorcet Jury Theorem -- citizen duties -- democratic legitimacy -- voter ignorance; Libertarianism -- United States -- Periodicals; 320.512
• DOI: 10.1080/08913811.2021.1932084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-3811

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In response to widespread voter ignorance, Jason Brennan argues for a voting ethics that can be summarized as one negative duty: do not vote badly. The implication that abstaining is always permissible entails no incentive for citizens to become competent voters or to vote once competent. Following the Condorcet Jury Theorem, this can lead to suboptimal outcomes, suggesting that voter turnout should concern instrumentalist epistemic accounts of democratic legitimacy. This could be addressed by adding two positive voting duties: to make an effort to become a competent voter; and, once competent, to vote.