That’s the interesting topic of a blog post by Coquitlam Councillor Terry O’Neill, inspired by an American study that looked at the idea.
Would it work? First question. Second? What is the downside?
O’Neill’s controversial proposal, brought forward in 2012, was based on groundbreaking research by Gerber, Green, and Larimer (2008) that demonstrated the powerful effect of social pressure on voter turnout. Their large-scale field experiment involving hundreds of thousands of registered voters used targeted mailings to inform people about their neighbors’ voting history. The results were striking: publicizing electoral participation significantly increased turnout rates.
The Coquitlam councillor’s idea involved publishing voter names in local newspapers, creating social accountability and civic peer pressure. He argued this could address chronically low municipal election turnout, which often hovers around 30-40% in Canadian cities compared to 60-70% in federal elections.
Research supports the effectiveness of social pressure tactics. Studies show that when people know their voting behavior might become public knowledge, they’re more likely to participate. The psychological mechanism involves reputation management and social conformity – nobody wants to be seen as a non-participant in democratic processes.
However, critics raise valid concerns about privacy and democratic principles. Publishing voter names could undermine ballot secrecy and create unwanted social coercion. Some voters might feel pressured to vote against their convictions or abstain entirely due to fear of social consequences. There’s also the risk that employers, family members, or community groups could use this information inappropriately.
The effectiveness versus ethics debate continues, with democratic societies struggling to balance increased participation against individual privacy rights and voting freedom.
