What you are describing is called the Shura (council), not the same as democracy. In a shura, the elders and the most knowledgeable of the issue are put forward to discuss and try to find a solution to a problem. Democracy is a contest of interests, where people with the most votes (and the most money) wins.
Saying the Shura is the same with Democracy because it has a consultation, is like saying free sex = marriage, just because there's a sexual intercourse taking place.
Saying the Shura is the same with Democracy because it has a consultation, is like saying that the Salat is the same as going to the church, simply because in both, the acts of praising god is being done. Not the same at all.
In a democracy, interests wins, and that interests are backed by powerful figures and money. Money, not the truth dictates the outcome. Very different from Shura.
In a shura, the outcome must not conflict Islam, in a democracy the outcome can be in conflict with Islam. For example, the liquor is haram yes ? in a democracy, this liquor could be halal if the 'representative' decided to make it halal by means of voting. And when they vote to make it halal, the law enforcement will make sure these liquor are safely transactioned in supermarkets etc
In fact, democracy and the representative system is just a larping of the pagan Athenian senate that the Judeo-Christian West tried to copy in the 18th century.
And what is the ruling on imitating disbelievers ? HARAM !!
View attachment 25425
and these practice by the Athenian pagans are now seen as normal, which is something that needs to be corrected
