Opinion question about why you think we have such a low voter turnout in the US?

Question

My opinion is that it is because we (yes, I'm making a generality) feel comfortable enough, especially since we see them all over the place, that our government isn't "out to get us" or overly corrupt. I know a lot of people cry out about corporations and lobbyists but I'm sure the majority of Americans have a little more faith in the government. We simply on hear from the untrusting people.

Your thoughts? (and there is no point in attacking me because one I don't care enough for you to hurt my feelings and two it's meant to be thought-provoking not threatening)

Answer 1

I think it's because people are discouraged. All politicians (both sides) seem to be looking out for themselves and not the people who elected them.

It's pretty disheartening when all you have to choose from is "the lesser of two evils".

Answer 2

Several factors:

1) With corporate money so influential in politics, the people really feel disconnected from our government, and feel that their interests won't be looked after in any case because they don't have the money to bribe/buy influence in Washington.

2) TV attack ads work. Negative ads are not designed to make you support any candidate, they are made to make non-supporters stay home and not vote. They are designed to turn off voters and suppress turnout.

3) With the widespread election fraud perpetrated by the Bush administration and the Republican party - caging lists, "purging" of legal voters, spoiled and uncounted votes, challenges to legimitate voters and absentee ballots - people don't feel that even if they vote that their votes will be properly counted and accounted for.

4) The lawlessness of the current administration adds to the cynical view that the average person doesn't count, and to the view that the rich and powerful call the shots and are above the laws and rules the rest have to live by.

5) We're pretty lazy as a society, and lacking the initiative to be engaged and informed (relying on TV spots for information on elections, for instance, or TV pundits), it's much easier to lack the motivation to try and make a difference.

Answer 3

I think you are off base on your theory of "trusting the government not to hurt us"...

I think the reason voter turnout is so low is because people are too dam lazy to get off their butts and go. They are more interested in what Paris Hilton - or the latest celebrity - is doing, who is sleeping with who. Too many are self-centered and as long as their little corner seems OK, they don't give a tinkers dam about anything else.

BUT - I think that is going to change. Voter apathy has given us George Bush and his deadly little war, a failing economy, an administration full of thugs, liars and crooks, a justice system in tatters..... Maybe these consequences will get the lazy bums up and out on election day.

We take our freedoms for granted. We let "someone else" worry about it. We believe everything we see on TV and hear on shock radio. We don't take the time to find out for ourselves but rather will let anyone lead us around by the nose and tell us who to vote for.

I hope THAT is over for a while. Sometimes you get the President you deserve.

Answer 4

truthfully, there is truly no actual thank you to tell who's triumphing. Polls instruct one ingredient, however the polls assume a great variety of issues like voter turnout. If voter turnout is bigger or under predicted, then you truly can throw the polls out the window. we can't have any theory who's triumphing the election till the next day night after 7PM jap Time.

Answer 5

For one thing, we don't falsify voting records. When some nations claim high voter turnout or near-unanimous elections that's all it is - a claim.

Asside from that, there are a number of possible reasons for willfully not voting (as opposed to not making it to your polling place at the right day & time, that is). You could feel disenfranchised - that none of the candidates represent you, or that the democratic process itself is a sham to some degree. Or, you could feel that things are chugging along just fine, and that your participation isn't needed. Or, you could simply not understand the issues well enough to be comfortable making decisions about them.

Answer 6

Because, in spite of the availability of information, the majority of citizens know little about their own rights and, if you check federal statistics, you would be surprised at the relatively high number of people who are "functionally illiterate." It should amaze one how many people are unable to read a whole newspaper, let alone a book, on the other hand, check out some of these questions as well as many answers and ask your self if they even know English.

Answer 7

My opinion is that when neither party presents a candidate worth a whip, I don't vote for the "lesser of the two fools". I won't vote unless I think the candidate is worth a vote. LOL :-)

Answer 8

i think it is great whatever the reason.
those who are interested vote and those who are not do not.

one party is always trying to get the uninterested and uninformed to vote, assuming (correctly) that the ignorant will vote their way.

i hope their efforts "rock the vote" or sign up people who just want a drivers license continue to fail. it makes the informed vote more valuable.

Answer 9

discounting the value of a single vote, laziness, and "let
George do it" attitude. Or possibly the feeling of helplessness
in changing/removing the monster we've created

Answer 10

I talk to many people and they tell me......
1. No Time
2. doesn't count
3. the government is corrupt.. it's not what they know,, it's who they know and who has more money.....