LEARNING ACTIVITY 4

Learning Activity: Voter Citizenship Education

1. What is the relationship of Elections and

Democracy?

All government authority originates from the

Constitution, which assures that we are a
sovereign people. Sovereignty, or the power to
govern, is exercised both directly and indirectly
through politicians elected by the people to
serve as their public servants. Clean, orderly,
and honest elections are thus the expression of
the people's will. Elections are part of the
representational democracy system, which is
supplemented by direct democracy. Direct democracy
encompasses a wide range of forms and
classifications of direct citizen participation
in governance. Plebiscites, referenda, people's
initiatives, recalls, and barrio assemblies are
examples of these. According to studies, when
direct democracy methods are used, individuals
experience a higher level of freedom. The notion
of "consent of the governed" underpins the
representative democratic framework, in which the
people govern through elected representatives. As
a result, government officials who are chosen and
elected by the people become slaves rather than
masters of the people for whom they exercise
power and authority. In a representative
democracy, citizens have the right to make free
and informed decisions about who to vote for, and
those decisions must be guided by the actual
welfare of the majority. The type of government
that will serve citizens will be determined by
each individual voter's political option and
decision.
2. . What other mechanisms (aside from voting for
elected officials) are available for the citizens
to participate in governance?

Our Constitution mandates alternative tools to

further democratization and citizen participation
in governance in addition to voting in elections.
At both the local and national levels, the
initiative and referendum systems empower
citizens to directly enact, propose, and reject
laws. As someone who works on deliberative
democracy and its processes, I believe that
electoral accountability should not be
overstated. Of course, it is preferable than
nothing, but it is ineffective in ensuring a
democratic government. Finally, we're talking
about a power source that can be used every 4 or
5 years. Such strength is simply insufficient. A
systemic issue is the lack of citizen power in
politics. We can't talk about people's power
unless their ideas and viewpoints are conveyed to
the political arena. The importance of education
cannot be overstated. People's voting preferences
may have better bases as a result of higher
education. However, unless individuals have more
opportunities to influence policymaking, the
system will not become more democratic than it is
presently. This will require a more systemic
environment than electoral politics can provide.
Deliberative and participative approaches, in
this case, I believe, offer excellent avenues for
political decision-making.
3.
Do you still value your vote? Why or why not?

Yes, because it is my right to vote and decide

who will govern and strengthen our country. Because
I have the authority to determine the quality of
life you desire for me and future generations.
Voting gives us the opportunity to advocate for
topics that matter to us, such as public
transportation, raising the minimum wage, and
funding local schools. This is our life, and we
should take the time to participate in the
decision-making process. People who vote determine
the outcome of elections. Take some time to learn
about the candidates and the measures. Someone else
will make the decision for you if you do not vote.
Our vote gives us power. You, like every other tax
payer, pay taxes, but do you know how that money is
spent? The majority of folks do not. Voting gives
us the opportunity to direct how our tax dollars
are spent, such as on health care and social
services. if we want to have a positive impact on
the world Voting provides us with the opportunity.
Support candidates and ballot initiatives that will
benefit our town, state, and ultimately the nation
as a whole. In these elections, we must make our
voices known. Friends, loved ones, neighbors, and
children make up our communities. Some people may
be unaware of the importance of voting, while
others may not have the opportunity to do so. Make
the decision to vote for ourselves and those in our
immediate vicinity. Make sure that our voice is
heard and listen in the upcoming election of 2022.