With the proximity of elections, the disenchantment of a large part of the population with Brazilian politics and the future of the country is visible. Just note the number of people who think about annulling their vote. But is this tactic really worth it? Check four arguments in favor and four against.
in favor
– Voting is a right of all citizens living under a democratic regime. AND untransferable and secret, therefore, anyone can choose not to vote for any of the candidates if they do not identify with the political proposals presented by them. It is a valid and conscious decision to have your vote disregarded.
– You political scandals in Brazil in recent times have made the population disbelieving in relation to politicians and the future of the nation. If a large number of voters showed dissatisfaction by refusing to elect someone, it would probably cause the current structure to be rethought and the level of candidates to improve.
– An expressive null vote, with the participation of a high number of voters, would be an interesting protest because it would attract the media attention – and not only the press in Brazil, but in other parts of the world as well. It would be a real international scandal and would show the size of popular dissatisfaction, opening up new perspectives.
– This type of protest could stimulate the adoption of the optional vote, that would select a conscientious electorate, capable of electing competent candidates. In most consolidated democracies, voting is not compulsory.
+ What if Sílvio Santos had won the 1989 election?
+ Which animals have already run in elections?
Against
– In Brazil, all literate people between the ages of 18 and 70 are obliged to vote. Although buying votes is illegal, in poor communities and small towns it is common to vote for certain candidates in exchange for basic food baskets or medicine, for example. That invalidates voting as a personal and democratic expression.
– What elects a candidate are the valid votes – it does not matter if part of the electorate did not vote. That is, who annulled, left blank or did not go to the polls washed his hands and let others choose. Whether you vote or not, the disputed position will not remain vacant and its occupant will make decisions that directly affect the lives and pockets of the people.
– Just like going to the polls wearing a clown nose to protest against current policy, voting null, in the view of specialists, is a empty, inconsistent complaint. It is on a daily basis that voters must express themselves, meet the pre-candidates and fight what they consider wrong, and not only during election periods. elections.
– Those who vote null only increase the chances of election less prepared candidate. If voided votes were used in favor of the right politicians, there would be fewer corrupt ones. But unfortunately, many people do not take politics seriously.
+ What was the suffragist movement?
+ What is political reform?
CONSULTANCY Arthur Luis M. Rollo, coordinator of the Department of Public Law at the Faculty of Law of São Bernardo do Campo, Emerson Urizzi Cervi, professor of the postgraduate course in Political Science at the Federal University of Paraná, and Marco Antonio Vargas, advisory judge to the presidency of the Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo
SOURCE Superior Elected Court website