These days in Britain turn out at elections is falling; at local elections, perhaps only 3 or 4 in every 10 will bother to vote.; probably worse in Euro Elections. Polling stations are underwhelmed, and many ballots papers are left untouched. Much is made of the hard won right to vote, the battles since the Reform Acts of the 19th Centuries, the Suffragette Movement, and increased particpation in democratic structures. Moves have been afoot to allow 16 year olds to vote, but it appears that the 18-24s are among the least likely to bother. Unfortunately, increrasingly, so are peopleof all ages. Bother to do what, exactly? Spend 10 minutes in a Primary school casting a vote in total peace and security? Put up with inane political broadcasts and wax lyrical at some dodgy expenses scam? Have a bit of banter with the local candidates or the school jannie at the door? Try to engage with issues and listen to the debate? It would seem that maybe that’s too much for many people now. It’s too much like hard work. So, what about today’s elections in Afghanistan?
What about the polling clerks in Kabul, the police guards, the women in burkas defiantly raising their fingers in indelible ink, risking amputation, or worse. The female candidates looking for a more liberal approach? Or the officials sorting out the ballot papers tonight? Each candidate, each particpant in today’s election runs a huge risk; to be mangled or incinerated by a roadside bomb ot a suicide attack. The young, committed voters could be dead tomorrow because they could be bothered. If so called “peasants” in baggy trousers can be bothered to queue, to risk everything to vote today, if 200 + soldiers from the UK alone, not to mention local soldiers and police and translators can lose their lives, then perhaps they don’t count democracy in this backward, war weary, impoverished country so cheap as many of our own folk seem to do.
