Dear Editor,
The recent Scottish Parliament election should give all of us cause for reflection. With voter turnout sitting at just over 52 per cent, nearly half of eligible voters chose not to participate in one of the most important democratic exercises in our nation.
The troubling story here is the growing sense of apathy and disengagement among the public, with the election campaign failing to ignite the public’s enthusiasm.
The SNP clearly won the election, but attracted only about one in five potential voters, and the Labour Party one in ten.
When almost one in every two voters stays at home, it raises profound questions about trust in politics, political representation, and whether our institutions are genuinely connecting with the people they serve.
Low turnout should not simply be accepted as the new normal. It should serve as a warning sign that democratic participation in Scotland cannot be taken for granted. The alarming lack of interest is a crisis that should concern all parties, and they should devote themselves to addressing this apathy by engaging the public.
If this trend continues unchecked, the Apathy Party risks further eroding the legitimacy of our institutions and undermining public confidence in government, paving the way for the rise of more extreme parties.
Politics must once again become something people feel part of — not something done to them from a distance.
Yours faithfully,
Alex Orr
Marchmont Road