Americans are proud of their democracy but even in 2000 and 2004, when people knew the results would be close, the turnout was much lower than the average among Western democracies. Why can't half of the population be bothered, and when was the last time that turnout was more than 60 per cent?
2006-11-01 22:33:59 · 11 answers · asked by Dunrobin 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
This supposedly free system of elections boils down to two candidates and parties, so why bother if you don't want either candidate, choose the lesser evil and it's your time and gas.
I would think this has much to do with it as well the registration of voters is outdated as Americans move so often. Change the system and reform. Regardless which candidate you elect or re elect it comes down to what their party wants and the money that supports them.
2006-11-01 23:34:02 · answer #1 · answered by AJ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The biggest reason isn't because we have bad choices, it's because we don't fully understand what our choices are. We see the ads, but they're confusing and biased. We could do a lot of research to find out who really represents our values, but that takes time. Instead, people decide not to decide. They tell themselves it doesn't really affect them, they're all a bunch of politicians, they don't really represent me, etc. It's not true. It DOES affect you. There may not be a single candidate who represents you 100%, but it's better to choose one that represents you 60% than one who is 90% against your beliefs.
If more people knew about ways to identify the candidates that agree with their beliefs (without a lot of effort), I think they might be willing to take the time to vote.
There's an excellent website called On The Issues that has a Senate Match Quiz - you choose your state and then answer 20 questions and it tells you which candidates most closely match your views. If you don't understand an issue, click on it to read a detailed explanation. The Senate Match Quiz is in the top left corner of the page at the link below.
If you want to spend a little more time and read about the candidates, click your state on the map.
Another reason is that they don't know what they need to do - do they have to register first? Where do they do that? What documents do they have to take? Where do they vote? What do they need to take there? All of these can be answered easily by calling your local courthouse, but it's intimidating for some people, so they just don't.
2006-11-02 08:37:00 · answer #2 · answered by swbiblio 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, there's a whole slew of reasons why more American's don't vote.
Quite a few don't understand how the electoral college works and believe that their vote doesn't count for much.
Some believe that the special interest groups control the votes.
Some claim to be too busy, but I can only imagine that there are few things more important.
Teens are disallusioned and don't register to vote. Most don't register until their mid twenties.
I find it ironic that the people who don't vote are the ones that complain the most about our government and elected officials. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain.
It's a damn shame that we don't have close to 100% at the polls!
2006-11-02 06:57:09 · answer #3 · answered by DetroitBrat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apathy.
It seems that no matter what the choice is, it is always bad.
And laziness, we are a country that is used to other people making our decisions for us.
Wake up people! Vote! Even if I don't agree with your vote, I agree with your right to vote.
I really don't understand it, I have voted in every available election since I turned 18 two decades ago. And I have made sure my son (who is 23) votes too.
It shouldn't be an option, it is our civic duty.
2006-11-02 06:48:35 · answer #4 · answered by Gem 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because they are taxed for time. Look the average family has two working parents and some are working two and three jobs to support themselves. Now look at the effect on the children who is raising the next generation parents. I think not it is more likely care centers and in some cases if they are lucky grand parents
2006-11-02 09:03:53 · answer #5 · answered by roscodog 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know the numbers but as an American I can tell you I have been very disappointed in our govt. local and otherwise. We vote people into office, and they don't fulfill their promises. I have a low opinion of politicians myself. We still have the freedoms we are proud of but the harder we work the more they take from us.
2006-11-02 06:39:33 · answer #6 · answered by uknowme 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We still have the pride we just knew no matter what it was going to be handled less than honestly just like the first one. I don't think we have ever elected Bush as our president'
2006-11-02 06:38:53 · answer #7 · answered by sosueme534 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the political ads are getting more dumber each election. Plus you don't know whom to vote for anymore because they are corrupted before elections.
2006-11-02 10:29:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you seen what the choice is?
As George Carlin says, you can choose from 107 breakfast cereals, but only two candidates.
2006-11-02 06:36:22 · answer #9 · answered by Damien C 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it's because there is no candidate worth voting for
2006-11-02 08:22:49 · answer #10 · answered by grumbles1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋