Oh Noes: Global Boiling Threatens Democracy Around The World

Bad Weather is apparently bad for voting, and never happened before 1850

How Climate Change Threatens Democracy

This year, at least 68 countries will hold elections, with billions of voters heading to the polls. Voting will be subject to many of the usual electoral risks, including disinformation campaigns, foreign interference, and rigging by incumbents. In some states, both incumbents and challengers could even use violence to keep certain people at home.

But there will be another factor, one not yet widely considered, that could skew results: the physical forces unleashed by climate change. They present a unique and novel challenge. Although all electoral threats are serious, the ones brought by climate change have the potential to disenfranchise voters even in the absence of malevolent intent. The disenfranchisement of even a few voters can make a profound difference in election outcomes, as in the case of the 537 votes in Florida that determined the U.S. presidential election in 2000. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the risk to voters will grow.

Of course, they aren’t actually becoming more frequent, you just see them more because of everyone being able to take video and put it up on social media. So, what’s this really about?

Electoral authorities in all countries, including Australia, Canada, India, and the United States, must take action to ensure that—even if polling places, ID cards, and communication networks are damaged or destroyed—citizens can exercise their fundamental democratic right to vote. Options include relocating polling stations, making the rules on registration more flexible, and protecting communications networks.

There it is: we have to make it easier for people to vote even if they are outside the rules. Outside their districts. Dead. Voting multiple times. Their address is a graveyard. They’re illegal aliens and lawful residents who are not eligible to vote. In a coffin. Seriously, most states have early voting periods: if you can’t get there during that time period that’s on you. This is all about enabling more cheating during elections.

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