Les usages contemporains du vote

Abstract

For a number of years, voting has undergone a clear decline and has seen an important evolution in its usage and status. Yet, it remains by far the most common act of political participation. Its universal character, the legitimacy it grants, its gratifying nature and its ritual function all contribute to its success. However, voting is increasingly confronted with the emergence of a "counter democracy" based on protest. The latter has contributed to a more banal and certainly more unstable and sporadic use of the ballot, voting becoming one means among many, to be chosen from a growing repertoire of political action.