Editorial: Democracy like miracle to some folk

Tonight a type of miracle will occur. Votes will be counted and the result will be accepted. It may take a few days or even weeks to resolve who will form the next government but whatever its shape, it will rest entirely on the votes cast today. That is democracy. We take it for granted but in places with no democratic traditions it seems like a miracle that powerful people might hand over authority, or give up the quest for it, on the verdict of so many bits of paper.

It is also part of a democratic tradition to impose very harsh tests on those who seek power. Over the past few weeks in particular, politicians have been subjected to a degree of critical scrutiny that very few people could survive. Nobody needs apologise for that and those bidding for power expect no less. But it appears to leave many voters with an excessive suspicion of politicians as a breed and that is unfortunate if it deters anybody from voting. Politicians are not a different species, they are people like the rest of us, genuinely interested in the country's welfare and working very hard in most cases to make well-informed decisions.

Today the same task is asked of the rest of us. If it means tearing ourselves away from sports or shopping or any other weekend activity for a few minutes, we should do it. If it means an inconvenient trip to a local school or church hall in bad weather, we should make it. If it means taking an interest in the parties and candidates for the first time, we should talk to someone who has been following the campaign, look back over any newspapers lying about or, failing that, do the best we can. The Herald cannot offer you much help today. Electoral law forbids the publication of political material on voting day. But we have done our utmost while we could to see that today's is an informed decision.

This is the fourth election under a system that gives everyone two votes, one for a party, one for a local MP. Polls suggest most people now understand which of the two is more important in deciding the parties that will form the next government but even after nearly 10 years of MMP, a large minority remains confused. The vote for the party is the vital one. With rare and well-publicised exceptions, the vote for a local MP is most unlikely to influence the apportioning of power in the next Parliament. It is the party vote that decides how many seats each party will have.

Participation today is important no matter how well informed you may feel. The act of voting is more than a decision about politicians and issues; it is a vote of acceptance of the decision we collectively make. When a large enough proportion of the electorate take part in the decision the result is more certain of respect. This country has had higher participation than most but the level has been slipping of late. All indications suggest this election will be keenly attended but we should not take it for granted. Vote.