The Egalitarian Theory of the Duty to Vote

Critics often argue that there cannot be a moral duty to vote because whatever reason there is to vote can be satisfied in other ways. This chapter develops a novel theory of the duty to vote—which the authors call the egalitarian theory—that responds to this challenge. The egalitarian theory grounds the duty to vote in the unfolding demands of treating others as equals in the pursuit of justice. Whatever private actions individuals perform to help some subset of individuals in need, they have a duty to recognize the equal importance of all individuals in need. And the only way for most individuals to do so is by voting in elections. This is because elections present a unique opportunity to advance justice in a holistic way that takes account of the full range and scope of human need, and in a way that treats each person’s need as equally important. Furthermore, voting uniquely pursues justice in a way that is not unilateral and treats people as equals in the process. In the course of developing the egalitarian theory, the authors defend the idea that voting is not a merely symbolic act, but can partially contribute to the moral improvement of institutions.