Why don't more US citizens vote on election day?

Question

Typically, only about two-thirds of registered US voters actually vote; and I can't help but wonder why. No voter has very far to go to vote; and it only takes a few minutes.

Answer 1

2/3rds is actually not a bad number at all. In many countries it is around 50%. I think that's actually higher than what it's been in past years. Also voting was much higher for this last midterm than its been in a about ten years

Answer 2

In NY the state has made it difficult to vote. The voter registration list is also a source to pull prospective jurors from. Often people loose precious income to serve on juries, so they attempt to avoid the loss, and our judicial system looses in the process.

NY tends to place undue burdens on people for doing their civic duty. Attending a town meeting can be like going to a family feud and being caught in the middle. Taking sides has it's ripple affect. So people "manage" their immediate experience but sacrifice their freedoms to do it.

The other reasons I believe people don't vote, is they do not see how their vote still counts. Also their lives are so overwhelmed that they don't have time to understand the issues to make a responsible decision.

Recently the general public excercised their "power" by rejecting the attempt by oj simpson to gain from the murder of his childrens mother and Mr. Goldman. This power can be effectively used in many area's. We just have to use the same conviction as was used in shutting oj simpson down.

Answer 3

I think there are many reasons...laziness, lack of political interest. But the one I hear more than others is "I didn't like any of the candidates." which is comlete BS to me. I tell my friends who give that lame excuse that although there may not be an "ideal" canidate for them, if they would take the initiative and learn a bit about the candidates and their platforms (not from a 30 second tv commercial) that they would find in most cases, there is a candidate that actually suits them. I take voting very seriously and realize that many, many people have died giving us that freedom and allowing us to keep it...I wish everyone felt that way.

Answer 4

I didn't vote because of all the controversy with the voting process. Who's to say that it is fair anymore?
Also, I don't feel that the candidates up for election are worthy of the job they are trying for. Why should I vote for people I don't want to see in office?

The whole process is just a joke anymore. We are trying to liberate Iraq, when we don't even know how to run an election. Give me a break.

Answer 5

To Vote is to support. Unfortunetly most Politicians "LIE". When we Vote we put a LIAR in Office. Most people feel if a LIAR is going to be there then by not Voting we did not help put a LIAR in Office. P.S. I voted, yet they refused "NONE OF THE ABOVE" in Kansas. I did Vote for a few honest people and they won. Herbert West III [e-mail]

Answer 6

better than 0.5 the states enable early (absentee) balloting, so electorate might want to correctly be able to vote previously they bypass. previous that, states have the right to set functional residency criteria and the majority do not bypass between states very commonly. P.S. 30 days is the optimal residency requirement and many states have a lot less (10, 15 or 20 days).

Answer 7

I don't vote this year because in all honesty it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter who you vote for they are both s*it...

When I actually have someone that I WANT to vote for then I will be more than happy to go out and vote...

But...voting for A because he is not as bad as B...that's not a choice.

Answer 8

I don't understand it either. I always vote. Voting is not just a right, like most people think. It's a duty.

Answer 9

Personally, I think its because the campaign process has become so corrupted with mudslinging that it almost seems pointless. ALL of them have there pluses and minuses but the end result is changes get made to benefit those who don't need it and the ones who do still suffer.

Answer 10

lazyness

Typically Americans don't really understand anymore what previous groups had to go through just to get the right to vote. Also most people in the U.S. are not informed individuals....