Ontario Tech: POSC 1200 Essay - Right to Vote in Democratic State

This essay examines the right to vote within a democratic state, focusing on Canada and its policies. It delves into the pluralist theory of democracy, analyzing how it addresses voting rights and the implications of various laws and acts. The essay discusses the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution Act 1867 and other policies that ensure equal voting rights. It also explores the role of philosophers like Robert A. Dahl and the impact of democratic principles on society, including the reduction of social evils. The essay provides an overview of how democratic theories and policies influence the behavior of the citizens and contribute to the overall development of the country. It also discusses the significance of education and the role of government in maintaining and promoting equal voting rights.

Right to Vote in Democratic State
Student Details
3/5/2020

Right to Vote in Democratic State
Democracy is considered as a form of government that governs the functions
activities, people and resources of that region. Democracy in regions has taken new facets,
where its actual essence is reducing or getting missed. The major role of democracy is to
maintain the right of all people who comes under it. The democratic nation makes sure that
the right of each individual is not getting hampered. There are many rights like the right to
vote, speak, to be heard, human rights, LGBT rights, sex-marriage rights, citizenship rights,
security and cleanliness right, prisoners, etc, an individual has while residing the Canada
which is a democratic country (CBC, 2019).
Among those rights, the most crucial one is the right to vote where the voting of each
individual in Canada helps in choosing the right person to govern them and the country
(FUENTES & CHARLES, 2001). The right to vote is noted the same in every region as all
over the world people are differentiated for voting on the basis of their gender, religion,
status, etc. Hence in the current study, the rights possessed by every individual all around the
world are discussed. The study also discusses the difference between voting rights and the
measures that can be taken to reduce this difference.
Democratic Theory Discussion
Theories said to be generalized thinking about a situation, phenomenon, etc. In every
field, many theories are established by in-depth researches conducted by scholars. The same
goes for the theories of democracy which are established by many scholars from a long
period of time. It is considered that theories are needed in society to deal with the changing
scenarios to understand them and to direct the behavior of others in favor or in of changing
scenarios so that no one can be discriminated against or get hurt in the process (Saunders,
2018). With this view, many theories of democracy are also developed by famous scholars all
around the world. These theories talk about the steps or methods that a person can adapt to
experience and follow democratic principles in an effective and efficient manner. In this
section, one democratic theory is discussed with respect to the degree of voting right it allows
its citizens all around the world (Eisenchlas, 2010).
There are multiple theories of democracy such as the Traditional Theory of
Democracy, Pluralist Theory of Democracy, Elite Theory of Democracy, Hyperpluralism,
Economic theory of democracy, radical democracy, Elite Theory, Pluralist Theory, etc. In
this study, the Pluralist Theory of Democracy is discussed, with a view to providing some

direction and suggestions to the difference in voting rights all around the world. The Pluralist
theory of democracy is formulated by famous scholar Robert A. Dahl, who is the citizen of
the US. The detailed knowledge about Robert A. Dahl will be given later in this study.
According to him, the type of democracy in which there is more than one power unit in a
country is known as Pluralist democracy (Muthusamy, 2019).
Type of democracy might differ in many countries of the world, where the main
power held centrally and the authority and responsibility of managing the whole nation are
delegated to various small powers in the form of state governments. After the introduction of
the pluralist theory in his studies by Robert Dahl, many scholars came into the light to
provide additional information on the same. According to the research of Reginald J.
Harrison in his book named as “Pluralism and Corporatism: The Political Evolution of
Modern Democracies”, basic information and some new paradigms of the theory are
identified and discussed. The book made a comparison between pluralism and corporatism, in
which the evaluation of modern democracies has been done. In this book, the democracy and
the rights given to all individual have been discussed. The voting right of the individual in
various countries is also illustrated. The study adds something productive and developmental
in the era of democracy (Harrison, 2019).
According to the report of American weekly News Magazine that is Newsweek on
24th April 2019, the voting right of prisoners has been argued. It is identified that are
prisoners in foreign nations can vote for their country or for the country they are kept in. This
report identified that the right of prisoners voting differ country to country, where almost 16
countries like US, Canada, Denmark, Finland, etc have allowed their prisoners to vote for the
government selection, however, remaining countries might have not allowed it or allowed it
partially (LEMON, 2019a). This demonstrated the pluralist theory of democracy where the
different power of governing has been shown all over the world with different concepts,
rights, etc.
The right to vote is considered the most sensitive topic in today’s economy. Form the
last decade till today the discrimination of people on the basis of their gender, religion, color,
etc has been reduced. This influenced voting rights as well, which has given rights to women,
black people, poor people, etc (Pal, 2015). In today’s world as well there are many countries
that restrict some of their citizens to vote like Saudi Arabia recently allowed women to vote.
It somehow depends upon the policies and laws identified and implemented by the
government of countries all around the world even in Canada (Dawood, 2013). The role of

policies and laws in allowing and maintaining the right to vote in democracy according to the
pluralist theory of democracy is huge. It helps in directing the behavior of the nation and
taking corrective actions for the same (Chapman, 2019).
Current Policy Analysis and Implication on Democracy
The policies, rules, and regulations made by the government in a region help the
public of that region to live with the merits of democracy. The same goes for Canada, where
the government follows the democratic path (Department of Justice, 2017). With respect to
this, there are many rules policies and regulations that are implemented by the Canadian
government to protect the interest of their public against non-democratic, discriminatory and
forgery circumstances. The government of Canada enforced some policies to direct the
principles of democracy in their country. Democracy that holds the government as supreme in
Canada comes under the Constitution Act 1867. This act provides the basis for policies and
procedures for the constitution of Canada as well as directs its functions under democracy.
Apart from this act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms also directs the principles
of democracy in Canada (Government of Canada, 2019).
There are some policies in the mentioned acts of Canada that directs the behavior,
actions of people regarding the act of voting. The center of Canadian democracy is built to
cater to an equal voting right which has to be done within the principles of democracy. The
Constitution Act 1867 and Charter act of rights and freedom of Canada help the Canadian
population to direct the voting process during the selection of the government within the
country. They monitor the voting process and facilitate it without making any chaos. It also
monitors the illegal voting processes so that no illegal action can be taken by the population
of Canada. In the betterment of society and the overall development of the country, it is
expected by the government of that country to monitor and direct the actions of its people and
take corrective actions to avoid any discrimination against voting rights to take place in the
country (SOROS, 2013).
According to the book of Jan Aart Scholte, the factors responsible for building global
democracy are discussed. It also focused on civil society and be accountable governance of
the concerned governing body of a particular place or region. In this book, the details that can
be adopted by individuals as well as the government to deal with non-democratic behavior
are discussed and new parameters like the role of society in the same with social
responsibility are recommended. The book is all about keeping the society civil which means

within the parameters specified by the government that can keep social evils outside.
According to the author, it can be possible with the help of the respective government which
feels responsible or can be held accountable for the same (Scholte, 2011). With the help of
information given in the book, it can be said the policies, laws, and government of Canada
plays a very important role in maintaining equal voting rights within the parameters or
specified principles of democracy.
It is not completely possible to completely avoid uneven voting rights and all social
evils form the world, however, the respective initiatives taken by each individual can reduce
the discriminating mentality of persons. This can influence society by thinking equal to
everyone in terms of gender, intelligence, race, color, etc. It further can help them in allowing
equal voting rights in the selection of government of a particular region (Raeijmaekers &
Maeseele, 2015). There are many studies done by scholars like the study of Sue Winton in
2010, the character development and critical democratic education of Ontario, Canada is
discussed.
The study focuses on determining the level of the accomplishment of principles of
democracy in the education system. It is based on diversity, equity, dialogue, critical
mindedness, and social justice. The paper concentrates on identifying the solutions for
catering to the democratic needs of students while helping them in their overall development
(Winton, 2010). This further help in teaching students regarding the equal voting rights from
staring only for future generation can spread this thought as far as possible.
There are implications of considered laws and acts implemented by the government of
Canada, which directs the behavior of its people and functions according to the principles of
democracy. With the help principles of democracy like equal voting rights to can help in
satisfying the needs of many people, which in turn helps the national in the reduction of
poverty and thereafter the homelessness and other social evils like drug addiction, etc get
reduced. In the absence of democratic principles, discrimination can play a negative role in
the management of equality in the country, which can impact the development of the country
and its people. According to the book written by Steven Vago and others in 2017, the law
relating to democracy, in general, is discussed, which is, directly and indirectly, related to
society. It discussed the impact of the non-democratic nature on the growth of the nation as
well as its public (Vago, Nelson, Nelson, & Barkan, 2017).
Analysis of Philosopher and Nature of Democracy

The theories and concepts developed worldwide to deal with democratic conditions or
to direct the behavior of people regarding the same are developed by scholars. These scholars
become philosophers when their study brings something meaningful in society, which can
help in challenging against various social evils. The theory of democracy specified by various
philosophers helps the people of Canada and of other countries to deal with the
discrimination, poverty, drug addiction, homelessness, etc. The Pluralist Theory of
democracy which is discussed in the above lines is very crucial for the development of the
nations, as it helps in governing of nation effectively by distributing power to control in small
fragments. In this manner, the right of voting can be facilitated in the nations appropriately.
The theory is originated by Robert A Dahl around the 1960s, where he argued about the
passion of small powers in the form of elite politics in the hands of many states of the US. In
this manner, the pluralist theory of democracy came into light.
Robert Alan Dahl was indeed a philosopher at Yale University as well as a Sterling
Associate of Business administration. The pluralistic theory of democracy is developed, in
which political outcomes can be obtained by competing, if not unequal, interests and
"polyarchy" is implemented as an expression of true democratic governance. A pioneer of
empiric theory, Dähl's study centered on the essence of actions in real organizations such as
US cities and was noted for the development of behavioral characterizations of political
power. He is the leading scholar connected to the pluralist approach of the city as well as the
national structures of power.
In his many publications in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Robert stated pluralist
theory; he had an intellectual dispute with C. Wright Industries Mills claimed that the
governments of America are in a unitary and demographically limited hierarchy in influence.
Dahl reacted that many separate classes have to deal with each other, both in conflict and in
agreement. Dahl believed it was polyarchy (or pluralism) at least when that wasn't plurality in
a conservative context. Who rules, maybe in his best-known work? (1961) explores the
power structures (both formal and informal) in New Haven, Connecticut, as a case study, and
shows that this opinion is accepted.
Starting in the late 60s, academics including G disputed his observations. The US
Republic in How Democratic in 2001 Dahl claimed as the US constitution worked from a
stand of "profound ignorance" about the future, that the US constitution is far less inclusive
than it should be. Yet he continues that "this brief institutional collapse which I neither expect
nor, however, want" is to do little or nothing. Although not all democratic pluralists support a

pluralistic democracy, it's popular that plurality is often seen as the fairest and most effective
way of reconciling covert principles. In the context of the reflection and balancing of
opposing theory, pluralists are also trying to create or change social institutions.
In 2015 the basic facets of modern politics are explored, in keeping with Bruce
Stinebrickner's research, when the senses, culture, politics and so on of democracy are
analyzed. The study focuses on seven' influence types,' namely, force, intimidation, energy,
persuasion, exploitation, incitement, and authority. MPA provides an outline of Dahl's
research into democracy and polyarchy, in discussing similarities and differences between
world policy regimes (Stinebrickner, 2015). The book named James Madison comprises a
chapter with the Robert Dahl named “Madisonian Democracy” which explains the outline of
democracy so as to deals with the compromise notion of development. The representative is
also supposed to sacrifice his ability to make social changes. It can help to achieve equal
voting rights and hold them successful for forever (Ball, 2017).
The pluralist theory of democracy established by Robert has given a new direction to
the sense of democracies of various countries. The role played by central power now gets
dispersed among many decentralized powers, which in together try to maintain the
developmental efforts of the country. This further helps in keeping an eye on the voting rights
given to people of a country or region. It can further provide collective results for non-
democratic nature or non-fulfillment of democratic rights of the country (Connolly, 2017).
Conclusion
Democracy is a system of government that is made up of people, made for catering to
the needs of the people and made by people by choosing a representative. In this form of
government among common people, the representatives hold the governing and political
power which helps them in ruling common people directly or indirectly by winning elections.
In this study, the role of democracy in acquiring and maintain equal voting rights in Canada
and all over the world are analyzed. It has been seen in the study that Canada is one of the
various developed countries of the world, which has implemented equal voting rights for
every citizen either women, prisoners, or any other person. It's further can help in the
formulation of government with the intelligence of all citizens of the nation, which further
impacts on reducing poverty, homelessness and other social evils like drug addiction, etc
form every small part of the countries.
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