Elections as a Mechanism of Consent in Democratic Theory

Abstract

Democratic legitimacy is commonly grounded in the idea of popular consent. Elections are widely regarded as the primary institutional mechanism through which such consent is expressed. This paper critically examines the role of elections as a mechanism of consent in democratic theory. Drawing on classical and modern theorists, it interrogates whether electoral participation genuinely reflects popular consent or merely provides procedural legitimacy. The paper argues that while elections remain central to democratic justification, their capacity to embody meaningful consent is contingent upon broader political, social, and institutional conditions.