Rachael Cobb, associate professor of political science and legal studies at Suffolk University, joined the Newton Free Library and Ashland Public Library on Friday to address rising threats to democratic legitimacy.
“We have a challenge before us where what we even think of as elections and what their outcome is is in question,” Cobb said in the Zoom webinar.
Cobb cited dwindling confidence in voter experience and cues from political candidates, who she referred to as “elites,” as the main factors weakening democracy.
“Voter confidence is confidence in our democratic institutions,” she said. “If we have confidence, then we believe that the outcome is legitimate.”
A key component of confidence is the voter experience, aspects of which can range from time spent waiting in line to the behavior and attitude of poll workers, according to Cobb. She added that the more positive the voting process is for the voter, the more likely they are to have faith in the results.
“A very negative voting experience … can make people really question the legitimacy of the election,” she said.
Cobb said that one simple variable can influence the faith of voters: whether or not their preferred candidate wins.
“If you supported the winner, you have higher levels of confidence in the outcome, and if you supported the loser, you have lower levels of confidence,” Cobb said.
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