SALISES seeks solutions to political apathy through national study

The Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), in partnership with Behavioural Dynamics Solutions Ltd, has undertaken an initiative to explore and mitigate the growing societal disengagement from the political process.

The national study, titled ‘Understanding and Addressing Political Apathy in Jamaica: An In-depth Analysis of Causes, Consequences, and Mitigation Strategies’, delves into the roots of civic disengagement through robust data collection, advanced statistical methods, and thematic insight mapping.

Concluding its first phase on December 5, the study seeks to establish a vital foundation for strategies aimed at revitalising political participation across Jamaica.

“Political apathy has become a pressing concern, characterised by historically low voter turnout, eroded trust in institutions, and widespread disillusionment among citizens,” said Professor Lloyd Waller, director of SALISES and co-principal investigator.

Conducted between November 1 and December 5, the study reviewed historical voter patterns, conducted nationwide surveys with 2,209 participants, and engaged focus groups alongside key stakeholder interviews. Insights from these efforts, SALISES said, have already begun uncovering the root causes of disengagement.

“Political apathy transcends numbers; it represents a fundamental rift between the electorate and the democratic ideals that should inspire and empower them. This study is a cornerstone in our efforts to rebuild trust and engagement, ensuring that every Jamaican’s voice matters in shaping the future of our nation,” affirmed Dr Stephen Johnson, SALISES fellow and co-principal investigator.

The longitudinal study, extending through 2027, seeks to examine the causes of apathy across demographics, assess its impacts on governance and social cohesion, and develop strategies to reverse this trend. It also aims to explore motivational factors for voter participation and forecast electoral outcomes within the next 12 months.

The initial findings will be unveiled during a special forum at the Sir Arthur Lewis Week of Celebrations, scheduled for the week of January 20 next year.

Actionable recommendations

The insights are expected to offer actionable recommendations for policymakers, political leaders, and civic organisations committed to re-engaging the Jamaican electorate and bolstering democratic participation.

At the last general election, in 2020, Jamaica saw participation from 724,317 out of 1,913,410 registered voters, a voter turnout of just 37.85 per cent.

While the 2020 general election took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2016, there were 882,389 voters out of 1,824,412 registered voters, a voter turnout of 48.37 per cent.

Since the pandemic, there have been three parliamentary by-elections, all taking place this year but not contested by the Opposition People’s National Party.

In the St Ann North East by-election which took place on September 30, there were 5,129 voters of a possible 43,827, giving the governing Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Matthew Samuda victory from a voter turnout of 11.70 per cent.

On November 22, in St Andrew North Western, the JLP’s Duane Smith was elevated to Parliament after a voter turnout of 6.29 per cent, or 1,996 of the 31,729 registered electors.

Also on November 22, in Trelawny Southern, the JLP’s Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert was returned to Parliament after previously resigning amid a damning Integrity Commission investigative report. In that constituency, 5,657 people voted of the registered 25,041, a voter turnout of 22.59 per cent.

editorial@gleanerjm.com