Following a long-standing theoretical separation between the two, research on deliberative democracy is beginning to explore the relationship between voting and deliberation (Urfalino, 2021; Chambers and Warren, 2023). The French Convention on the End of Life (2022–2023) is particularly well-suited to this study, given its divisive theme and early, intensive voting practices. Furthermore, the voting process was much less controlled than the high-quality deliberative process, generating a great deal of tension. This article advances the epistemological analysis of voting, shifting the focus from its decision-making functions to its clarifying functions in relation to deliberation (Bourdieu, 2001; Moore and O’Doherty, 2014). Alongside graphical representation, I identify voting as a cognitive tool that shapes the content of deliberation; at this convention, it led to the prioritization of active aid in dying over other concerns. Given this tool’s power, the major challenge becomes the democratic governance of voting design.
Chloe Santoro (Tue,) studied this question.