Electoral participation, in Quebec as in the majority of democracies in the world, has been falling almost constantly for the past thirty years. Today, we wish to challenge businesses and organizations which, as privileged places of socialization for many citizens, can play a greater role in transmitting information and in arousing interest in participating in democratic life. .
Most of the actions encouraging electoral participation target citizens as individuals. However, companies and organizations are leading social actors. In the corporate culture in Quebec, we have long valued political neutrality within the organization and vis-à-vis the community as a deontological and ethical practice. This is a good thing, however, we can combine it with a duty to promote electoral participation to contribute to democratic health. Thus, as employers, we can encourage our staff to go to the polls without telling them who to vote for. We can also, in particular through groups and associations such as chambers of commerce, organize electoral debates in order to allow the electors of our region to better know the candidates who will appear on their ballot. It is this reflex that must be anchored within companies today. This is all the more true since, according to the 2022 Trust Barometer, produced by the Edelman firm, a majority of respondents trust their employer more than any other category of organization (NGOs, companies, governments , media), a trend since 2020.
Promoting voter turnout could even be part of corporate social responsibility. These already generally recognize that policies and practices integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are now a business imperative. Why not broaden the interpretation of the criteria of good governance to the exercise of a role of reinforcement of the democratic environment in which they evolve? Just as an ever-growing number of companies are positioning themselves as leaders in reducing carbon emissions, we are betting that many are also ready to play a role in democratic health.
The human and professional relationships that unfold in our workplaces influence the lives of citizens. More than ever, young people entering the labor market place their employer’s values and social responsibility at the heart of their priorities. The context is ideal for companies to question their role in democracy. This role can certainly include inviting, in a non-partisan way, it goes without saying, to help choose who governs and maintain the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. But what are the best practices for this? How to go further ? We intend to continue this reflection with volunteer business leaders in order to find innovative solutions to positively influence electoral participation and act on the health of our democracy. If you want to answer the call, contact us!