When will americans get off their duff and vote?

Question

I don't understand why most people will not vote. No way to change the system unless you vote!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Laziness account for some...but I think that most of the others underestimate the power of the vote. It is easy to feel that regardless to who is in office it won't make any difference. Also there is the feeling that once a politician is in office he does what he want to...and most go back on their word. Even if this is true they must realize that the vote give the power to the people and is the biggest weapon we have to promote change. If we are to make things better, this is the way. Then we have to let the politicians know what we demand. They are there to represent us...not cheat us.

Answer 2

Sadly I think that day will never come. People like to ***** and moan about how our elected leaders are screwing up the country, but these are the same people who have never voted once in their life. I think its sad that America votes for contestants on American Idol more often than votes for something important like who's going to be running the country. In Israel they complained that the last elections had the lowest voter turn out in history a turn out of 66%, when was the last time American turn out even came close to that? Perhaps the middle east should be exporting democracy to America, instead of the other way around.

Answer 3

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post on September 27, 2004.

As the US presidential election enters the home stretch, the majority of citizens remain ignorant about many of the issues at stake.

Surveys show that 70 per cent of American adults do not know that Congress recently passed a prescription drug benefit for senior citizens, even though the new law - projected to cost US$500 billion over the next 10 years - is probably the most significant domestic legislation passed during the Bush administration. More than 60 per cent do not know that President George W. Bush's term has seen a massive increase in domestic spending that added greatly to the budget deficit. Three-quarters admit that they know little or nothing about the Patriot Act.

However sad those results may be, they are not surprising. Decades of research show that most citizens know very little about politics and public policy. Ignorance goes beyond a lack of awareness of specific issues. Even more alarming is that most people lack basic knowledge about political leaders and the structure of government.

It is tempting to conclude that voters must be lazy or stupid. But even a smart and hardworking person can rationally decide not to pay much attention to politics. No matter how well-informed a person is, his or her vote has only a tiny chance of affecting the outcome of an election. Since that vote is almost certain not to be decisive, even a citizen who cares greatly about the outcome has almost no incentive to acquire sufficient knowledge to make an informed choice.

Acquiring significant amounts of political knowledge to be a more informed voter is, in most situations, simply irrational. But the rational decisions of individuals create a dysfunctional collective outcome in which the majority of the electorate is dangerously ill-informed.

If political ignorance is rational, there are limits to our ability to reduce it by reforming the education system or by improving media coverage of politics. With the rise of the internet and 24-hour news channels, political knowledge is readily available to those willing to take the time and effort to find it. The problem is not that the truth is not out there, it is that most do not bother to seek it out.

Even if the majority of voters were willing to pay more attention to politics, that still might not be enough to cope with the complexities of modern government, at a time when government spending accounts for one-third of the gross domestic product, and regulations affect nearly all aspects of life.

The problem of political ignorance is not going to be solved soon. But it may be possible to ensure that more people possess at least basic political knowledge. At the same time, we should consider the possibility that a government with fewer functions might be easier for voters to understand and control.

Answer 4

if you do some research you will see that in the last presidential election there were states where everything was rezoned and little things like that to make it hard for people to get out there. there are also states that are trying to pass laws that you have to PAY for a voter id card. this was found as a violation on the constitution in that states cannot charge a poll tax. another issue with requiring id is that it will take even longer.

i live in oregon and we have mail in ballots. i'm not sure how our turnout is compared to all states, but i know it makes it easier to remember because you can just mail the ballot in when you have a chance. i think overall, most people just aren't motivated enough and are discouraged by what is going on so they turn their backs to it and ignore whats going on instead of being active.

Answer 5

You know what would be great? I think that Americans should have to renew their license when they become 18, and that when they do, they should have to register to vote to do so. When election time rolls around, you have the option to vote. If you don't vote in three consecutive elections, you lose your license for six months. That would make anyone vote, I think.

Answer 6

You can vote all day long and still not change the system.
If a party does not run anyone worth a damn.
Besides politicians are all just evil anyway.
So what if you vote one form of corruption out, you are just going to get a different version from the other party.

Answer 7

I vote every election I can, because I'm believe if they see we are not using our right to vote they will try to take that away too. Just like prayer in school, Christmas, and state's sovereignty.

Answer 8

After seeing the damage of the last 6 years, I hope so, then again many Americans are more consumed with American Idol, we'll see...

Answer 9

I voted in the last election. It just didn't go my way.

Answer 10

Because they're ignorant and think their vote won't count. Others just don't care and don't want to vote.