They’re so wrong they’re accidentally right. Democracy is not the process of voting, else the DPRK would be a democracy. Democracy is a culture, and must take many forms to manifest itself. It’s the fair elections, yes, but it’s also the social dialogue, free press, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, independent judiciary, human rights, etc. It’s the shared belief in and willingness to uphold the ultimate sovereignty of the people, for the people.