In his analysis on the matter of low voter turn up in Uganda as ran by the Daily Monitor, Analyst Mr. Rwakakamba Morrison gave a perfect explanation and reply saying the declining voter turnout is a global issue.
Below is his full submission which he shared on his social media platforms;
But Daily Monitor ! Declining turnout of eligible registered voters is a real phenomenon globally except in countries like Australia and Belgium where voting is mandatory. The whys of this trend require a robust behavioral inquiry including context. Is Uganda’s 52% turnout the worst?
Tunisia: 11.4% in the 2023 parliamentary elections.
• Algeria: 23% in the 2021 presidential election.
• Nigeria: 27–29% in the 2023 presidential election.
• Switzerland: Around 45% turnout in the 2019 parliamentary elections (registered voters), the lowest among OECD countries.
• Chile: Approximately 47-49% parliamentary elections (e.g., 2021), following the shift from compulsory to voluntary voting in 2012, which caused a sharp drop.
• United States: Varies by election type; midterms often around 40-50%, while presidential elections reached 62-66% in 2020.
• Japan: Around 53-56% in recent parliamentary elections.
• Portugal: Often below 50-60% in parliamentary and Presidential elections.
Do we go Mandatory or change the incentives to mitigate voter apathy?
