The future of voting, in America and beyond

It has become commonplace in contemporary political discourse to lament what is perceived to be a crisis in liberal democracy.

Our political systems don't work anymore, it is claimed. Classic notions and institutions no longer inspire confidence, particularly among younger citizens. More and more people are openly expressing doubts about the merits of democratic governance.

Nowhere is the sentiment of crisis more acute than in the United States. According to a poll released by SurveyMonkey last week, some 45 percent of Americans have little or no faith in democracy. Meanwhile, the prestige of American democracy worldwide is faltering.

Voting is at or near the heart of the matter. Thirty percent of those polled are seemingly opposed to universal suffrage. Others cannot agree which is the greater threat to the integrity of the electoral system, voter disaffection...