How to Increase Participation
How to Increase Participation
The voter inclusion principle argues that vote suppression for partisan gain is virtually never legitimate, but increasing participation through legal and legislative maneuvers is legitimate and ethical, even if it is to the disproportionate benefit of one side. The previous chapters have discussed the ways in which the political parties have relentlessly violated this principle. This chapter explores how they can embrace it. The parties and candidates can play a primary role in strengthening democracy by increasing inclusion in a number of ways throughout the electoral process. Recommendations for partisan action are provided that follow the trajectory of this process, from voter registration through vote counting. The voter inclusion principle does not require that parties set aside partisanship or not seek electoral advantage. It does, however, require that parties do so by expanding the electorate.
Keywords: vote suppression, voting rights, voter exclusion, political parties, voter inclusion, democracy, electoral process, voter inclusion principle, partisanship
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