In today’s world where democracy is challenged by disinformation and mass propaganda, there is always fate in fair elections. It is important for everyone to understand that their vote always mattered, matters now and will matter in the future. One person can change the history and fate of the whole country. An interview with the election specialist, the former CEO of International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Nino Dolidze helps us to better understand the importance of fair elections and civic engagement.
Many people feel that their single vote does not make a difference. How do you respond to this belief, and why is individual participation crucial for democracy?
What would you feel if someone else decided what you do during the day, what you wear, what you eat, and where you go? I guess you would not feel comfortable if someone else decided your life. It is the same with your future. You want to decide how your future looks, what opportunities you have, what kind of healthcare system you prefer, what the educational system should look like, and whether you prefer to be part of the civilized world or live under an authoritarian regime, with no independence and freedom. This is why you should participate in elections: to decide what you want to do today and how your future should look. Politicians, governments and governors are elected by the people to serve the people. You pay them to do this work. If they do not, you have the right to reelect them. This is why you should participate in elections: to shape your future and hold politicians accountable. Some say one vote doesn’t matter. But what if ten people say the same, or a hundred people say the same? That means ten votes lost, a hundred votes lost. Do what you want others to do. And finally, we have many cases in history where one vote decided the outcome of elections. So, that one vote might have been yours!
In an era of rising disinformation and digital manipulation, how can civil society organizations effectively safeguard election integrity?
Elections have long ceased to be merely an election day. It is the whole cycle – from one election to another. Political actors always try to increase their potential voters, no matter if it is election time or now. Especially now with increased populism and information warfare. The role of civil society organizations is to safeguard information integrity, ensure that voters are not victims of disinformation and propaganda and that they make informed choices. For this sake, CSOs should continue fact-checking and debunking false narratives. But the most important thing is to work on the media literacy of society, to increase their resilience to disinformation. Hard work is required to prevent the effect of disinformation, but it can be most impactful. Society should develop critical and analytical thinking, not accept everything as truth, double-check, look from different perspectives and understand what is standing behind each news item. Most important is the whole-of-society approach, where different actors work together to defend against disinformation, but unfortunately, we live in an era when information manipulation becomes a fruitful tool in the hands of authoritarians. It is a difficult battle, but I hope we defeat it in the future.
As a female leader in the democracy and governance field, what advice would you give to young women aspiring to shape political and electoral processes?
When more women take leadership roles, the work is done more efficiently. Women are hard workers, dedicated to their jobs and success, progressive, open-minded and empathetic. These are the characteristics needed for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. I believe politics and all related fields will be much more interesting if women are more actively engaged. So, I would encourage every girl and woman: if you feel interested in politics or if you are motivated to do something greater than yourself, don’t hesitate—just go for it. There may be many difficult days, smear campaigns, cyberbullying and misogyny—but take it as an opportunity. Every attack makes you stronger, more experienced and more confident in yourself. You do not need to prove anything to anybody; just be yourself, express yourself, be feminine, be weak if you feel you need to, be what you really are!