Why don't some people vote?

Question

Only about 50% of the U.S. population votes, why don't the rest?

Answer 1

Some don't care, some feel they are not informed enough and some just feel their vote doesn't matter anyways...

Answer 2

Actually it's far less than 50% of the US population that votes. In 2000, less than 37.5% of the US population bothered to vote in the Presidential election. Even if you took out all the population under the age of 18 that only brings up the total to 44.7%.

Anyone who knows much about electoral politics knows that that number is higher than voter turnout for down ballot offices such as Congress, Statewide offices, State Legislatures, County, Municipal and School elections. General Elections obviously turnout many more voters than Primaries and Runoffs in which many candidates receive the nomination to be on the General Election ballot.

I used to think this was a problem. After 19 years in politics I have this to say. Although it would be nice if everyone gave a tooty fruity about politics the reality is some people are uninterested. That's okay. When other people fail to vote it just makes my vote count all the much more.

Answer 3

There are LOTS of reasons. Which ones apply depends on the individuals. Here are some examples:

1. Apathy. Some people just don't care. It isn't important to them.

2. Ignorance. Some people just don't know how.

3. Selfishness. Some people just don't feel like it.

4. Disgust. Some people do not think any of the candidates are worth it, so why bother?

5. Suspicion. Some people do not think their vote will be counted. The 2000 election certainly has added to this feeling.

6. Forgetfulness. Some people simply forget or get too busy.

7. Protest. Some people refuse to vote in order to make a statement on what they think of the political state of our country.

8. Patriotism. Some people do not vote in order to make a statement about their Constitutional right NOT to vote.

9. Poverty. Some people are literally so poor that they do not have the time or money to get to the polls.

10. Stress. Some people have so many problems that they just do not need one more thing to worry about, and voting loses its priority.

11. Complacency. Some people take voting for granted, and voting loses its priority. They can vote, so they don't bother.

12. Shyness. Some people have social anxiety and do not like to go out in public, especially in an environment where they perceive they might be embarrassed.

13. Racism. There are, believe it or not, a few places in this country where minorities are discouraged from voting. It is a shame, but it is true, and fortunately rare.

14. Jail. You can't vote if you're a felon.

15. Travel. Some people are out of the country and forget to get an absentee ballot, or do not know that they could get one.

16. Isolation. Some people live in hard-to-reach places and simply find it too difficult to vote, or they are isolated by an abusive spouse and not allowed to go.

17. Age. Some people are so old that they find it difficult to get to the polls, and do not remember to get an absentee ballot.

18. Misunderstanding. Some people simply do not understand how important it is to vote, so they do not bother.

19. Relocation. Some people do not vote because they just moved and have not been able to register again, and missed the deadline to get an absentee ballot. I actually missed an election one year because of this. Suck.

20. Any combination of the above.

That's a lot of reasons! Are they good reasons? You be the judge.

Answer 4

Only about 30 to 35 percent of registered voters actually vote. Pure apathy is the possibly the most obvious reason the other 65 to 70 percent don't. They feel like their vote is not really going to make a difference anyway, so why bother? Nothing could be further from the truth, especially when it comes to local and state elections. Every vote really does make a difference. Another reason is because many times, voters are happy with the choices they have, thus they don't vote.

I've volunteered on various local and state campaigns to GOTV, and sometimes it can be frustrating, but you have to keep trying to convince those non-voters they CAN make a difference.

Answer 5

I don't vote because my vote doesn't count. We do not have popular elections here in the US. The electoral college is a joke. Just a system to keep common people from voting for who that want. I will not be part of a system that doesn't use my vote unless it's for the electoral winner. This is a junk way of government and a way to discourage many people from voting.

Also you will never get 100% of the people to vote. The reason for this is because the congress and the senate run the country; not the president. It's just silly we live in a 19th century way of elections. No wonder our country is in a state of dispair.

Answer 6

I don't know why people don't vote but they need to understand that NOT voting IS voting! If there is someone running who is truly objectionable and against everything you believe you must vote against him or it's as if you voted for him. Not voting against someone bad for the country is like giving him your vote and I will never do that. Voting is the only way we can "say" anything. Not voting is not a useful form of protest. If you have genuine suspicions about your vote being counted well . . . welcome to the club! But that is not a valid reason to not vote. Fight for voting integrity but VOTE! Think of all the countries where you have no voice at all. We know the last 2 elections were stolen. Whether you're a republican or a democrat you know they were stolen. As a republican I don't know how good you can feel about winning that way. As a democrat I don't know how it can't make you mad enough to scream I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!

Answer 7

I am not sure why some don't vote but if you have a democracy you also have a voice. Those that don't vote are giving their rights away by the present administration in Washington, DC. 50% is not logical. One of the biggest reasons some don't vote is that there is no real choice. One crook is as bad as the other crook!

Answer 8

some people don't care
some people don't think that if they vote it makes a difference
some people hate the government
some people aren't citizens
some citizens can't vote because of trouble they've had with the law
some people don't follow up on politics and don't know who is doing what so they vote for no one

there are probably more reasons but thats all i can think of at the moment.

Answer 9

I don't vote but, I think the voting is rigged and no matter who you vote for the winner is already known, so I will not waste my time until the problems with voting are fixed. I agree with the dream on this one.

Answer 10

I think Mr. Taco has an outstanding list.

Numbers 5 and 7, as he gave them, are my reasons for why I don't vote ANY MORE! I used to, but the fiasco of election 2000, and especially the Supreme Court's interference, is a reason for me to "protest" by staying away from the ballot box (and complaining about the Supreme Court over and over and over again!)

Answer 11

The rest don't care. They think it doesn't matter. I loved it when they voted to ban smoking in public places because when the non voters complained, I told them that's what they got for not voting.