By Karamba Touray, Florida, United States

In the run-up to the 2006 Presidential elections, 670,336 Gambians were registered to vote, according to figures from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Of that number, 392,685 voted  for the three contenders and the President was re-elected with 264,404 representing about a third of the registered voters. The Parliamentary and local government elections that followed registered even steeper declines in votes cast. For example in KMC , the nation's largest municipality, it's elected chairman came into office with  19000 votes representing about 15% of the registered voters in that jurisdiction. The conclusion is as simple as it omnibus: the majority of the Gambian people for various reasons have decided to affirmatively disengage in the most consequential aspect of the political process, the voting. While even mature democracies sometimes experience dips in voter turnout,  their strong institutions and entrenched tradition of the rule of law and other fundamentals of checks and balances ensure stability and the effective function of government. For a nation such as ours, with it's weak institutions and other challenges, having these many people not voting across the board would have far reaching consequences because politicians do not have to get or even seek strong mandates since all that is required is a simple plurality of votes cast to win. There are lots of reasons for the broad decline in voter participation and it probably requires a separate write up. But for now, I would like to discuss with you a solution that has always been present but one we as a community have not fully explored.

First, we can all agree that a democracy by definition is shaped to a large extent, by the people who chose to participate in it's practice. Consequently, the democracy each Gambian wants has to be built and nurtured by that Gambian in the way and manner of his/her choosing - ranging from contesting elections, joining a political party, becoming a public advocate, joining civil society groups or being a regular voting citizen. It is the active participation of all these various components of society that produces a vibrant and lasting democracy.

Overseas Gambians are a segment of the society with the greatest opportunity to shape our democracy. It is true that most of us have remained somewhat removed from the political process for reasons that are as varied as they are understandable. Some simply feel politics does not affect them in anyway and are unconcerned; others aren't sure what they can or should even try to do. Yet, others are somewhat fearful that matters important to them such as future career plans, business interests or even trips back home to visit family may all be jeopardized if they attract some attention in the course of their advocacy. To these and other folks with reasons for not participating, I would like to suggest a form of participation that would enable you to address the fundamental malaise of apathy in our democracy without you having to do any overt activities that either brings unwanted attention to you or otherwise makes you feel uncomfortable in your new found effort. You don't have to join a political party; you don't even have to join any particular group or organization. What you can do is to use the existing relationship you have with your own family and friends as a vehicle to mobilize them into an army of voters by persuading them to register and to actually vote for the candidate you and them believe would best serve them in the office they seek. The reason you would be able to do this is because you have more credibility with your own family and friends than any politician or their agent can ever have. I will categorically state that there is no segment of Gambian society more influential than the diasporan that is engaged with his family and friends and every single one of us can mobilize and deliver votes .Therein lies the power we all have in shaping the democracy because once you can  put together and deliver actual voters, the dynamic would shift from the politicians to the voting citizens as it should be. And since the voting pool you will be putting together consist entirely of your own family and friends you will attract no unwanted attention in the process and you don't have to be in the Gambia either and the whole enterprise can be undertaken seamlessly. An independently mobilized pool of voters put together by a cross section of Gambians of all political persuasions and interests is the surest way to spawn and maintain a strong and enduring plural democracy. Instead of the electorate being literally subject to the machinations of the politicians as has always been the case in Gambian politics, the renewed vigor of a revitalized voter would ensure that the process and those who seek office would be within the firm hands of the people.

For those who aren't sufficiently motivated by the current crop of politicians but nonetheless harbor the desire to further the cause of democracy, you would stand a better chance of inspiring more of our citizens to enter the pool of office seekers if through your small but important step succeed in engaging your family and friends in the political process and create a constituency that can affirmatively influence the process. If on the other hand you are tempted to give in to the familiar refrain that says one man's effort can't really alter the cause of events and thus it isn't worth your while to participate by mobilizing your family and friends, I ask you to consider the potential in the aggregate. For example, in my own pool of voters it begins with my two daughters who will be of voting age this year in Serrekunda, to folks in Jangjangbureh, Kolikunda, Demfai and other parts of Sami where I come from and I am in touch with family and friends and the numbers begin to add up to a few dozen identified and deliverable votes. It is fair to assume that most of you reading this come from similar extended family setups like me and you too have existing relationships with most of your families and friends. All we have to do is to undertake the relatively simple effort of harnessing what is already there and engaging our people to build a participatory and functional democracy. This year there will be a general voter registration exercise for all qualified Gambians as opposed to the supplementary exercise that was conducted in previous years and it offers you the opportunity to get your pool of voters together especially those coming of voting age this year lined up and registered in their various jurisdiction. The registration is the first crucial effort in standing up your army of voters and it is important for them to be registered at the jurisdiction they live in to avoid the need to travel on or around election time because many voters have been left stranded on election day trying to reach far flung districts and unable to cast their votes. Once you are through with the registration, you need to keep engaging the voters in your mobilized pool to ensure that their registration cards and with it their inclination to vote are preserved. The periodic engagement with them allows you to keep having ongoing civic discourses and an opportunity to evaluate all the candidates resulting in the formulation of an informed and involved decision prior to voting. This also has the effect of walling off the voters from adverse influences such as intimidation, inducements or other underhanded tactics designed to affect the vote. In almost all instances, votes corralled within family and friends are delivered at the polls in time and without a hitch.

Convinced that all Gambians will ultimately appreciate a democracy in which a great number of our citizens participate, as opposed to an increasingly atrophied political process with most people giving in to despondency and lack of interest, I ask you to consider doing your little part by engaging your family and friends. It is simple, it is practical, you can do it confidentially and together we can all build a national movement while still maintaining our independence as distinct blocs of voters. This will invariably foster healthy competition as politicians will increasingly face organized and discerning voters who can't be easily manipulated and would hold office holders accountable every election cycle. To paraphrase a wise man, we are the change we seek. Please, don't let Gambia fall prey to apathy and abandonment when you have the influence and the opportunity to actually set it on a better course. Your family will listen to you because they always do. And more importantly, what you would be seeking in this undertaking will end up benefiting everyone. Start early, identify your perspective voters, persuade them to register and engage them till the day of election and counsel them to vote early and go home. And that's it. Whatever the outcome of the vote, you can be proud of the fact that you have done your part to strengthen your democracy. Unlike a spectator sport, democracy requires the participation of those who seek it to make it function well. I trust all Gambians will find value in doing their small part.