The United States currently faces a severe problem with one of their governmental processes. In the democratic system of the United States, politicians are elected by voting from the citizens, in most cases. The problem the United States is facing is that people are no longer voting in elections for officials. This problem is discussed in the article, “In praise of low voter turnout”, written by Charles Krauthammer. The main idea behind this article is that voters are no longer interested in politics, as they were in previous generations. As the United States establishes itself as a superpower, the need for politics becomes less important to the citizens. Also, we are experiencing a shift in focus to developing more technology and building
In Australia voter turnout doubled, going from “47% prior to the compulsory voting law... [to] voter turnout hover[ing] around 94%-96%” (source 1). Increased voters does mean a more accurate sample size of the population of the country. However, those voters who did not come before are now on equal footing with the men and women who studied and thought about the right candidate for the country. After all, a vote is a vote, and if half the voting population strikes through the first bubble and walks out the door, the first bubble candidate will win unfairly, and clearly not in the true interest of the people.
Okay, I need everyone’s attention that is between the ages of 18 to 100 years old. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM! You are registered to vote, but you don’t. What is that all about? Come on, do you know that young people are less likely to vote than older people. The Center of Voter and Democracy reported that young people are much less likely to vote than older ones. From 1972 to 2012, citizens 18-29 years old turned out to vote at a rate 15 to 20 points lower than citizens 30 years and older. Women voter turnout has surpassed men’s in every presidential election since 1980. REALLY GUYS?! But an interesting tidbit of information is that older women are actually less likely to vote than older men. So come on guys, get out there and vote.
From the 1867 to 1963 Canadian federal elections, the voter turnout has been relatively high. Since then, voter turnout has been descending where in the 2011 election only 61% of Canadians decided to vote. In the
In 2012, the year of the latest presidential election in the United States, the population of citizens capable and legally allowed to vote was 235,248,000; however, only 129,235,000 voted, making the voter turnout of 2012 54.9%. This statistic, being only slightly over fifty percent, makes the opinion of the other half completely irrelevant. The outcomes of the presidential election do not accurately portray the opinion of the nation due to the low voter turnout. Due to the lack of time, the complication of registration, and the opinion of voters that their individual vote does not matter, the voter turnout of the United States has been negatively impacted; however, these issues can be resolved through effective means of changing the mindset
We often assume that the reason behind the low voter turnout in the U.S. is due to institutional challenges (i.e. voter ID laws, registration, costs). Therefore, reformers most often focus on offering and improving various forms of convenience voting to increase turnout. Skeptics such as Graeme Orr argue that “voting whenever, from wherever, is a ‘lifestyle’ option.” Another skeptic, Adam J. Breinsky, argues that convenience voting has “perverse consequences on election reform” and that encouraging political engagement is more valuable than pursuing institutional changes. Although convenience voting offers flexibility and comfort, it is imperative not to overlook what Election Day is supposed to be: a communal event.
Voting is one of the many civic duties, as an American citizen, that is the most exercised. In the recent years, the voter turnout has increased from the previous years, but the turnout is still less than desired. In the 2008 presidential election alone, 61.7% of the eligible United States population voted and 53.7% of the eligible Texan population voted. This is much better than previous years, but still does not show a collective effort on the part of all eligible populations to vote. Americans have been known to have low voter turnouts.
Hey jackson! I completely agree what you said in your discussion. The low voter turnout should not be worried about and that it is a good thing in general. The people should not vote if they are not interested or are not educated on the election. As you said, If you introduce and educate the people on politics this should help the low voter turnout in time.
In the world of politics, voting is one of the most vital aspects to politicians, the local community, and the state. It gives the people who live in the communities a chance to let their voice and opinions be heard through their choice of who they want to represent them in political office or to take care of their town or city. Although many share this opinion, there are people who do not care to vote and do not get involved in politics. What is the underlying reason for this group of people to distance themselves from political affairs? Registering to vote can be a deterrent for many people because it requires effort to file all the correct paperwork and stay in good standing, which may be the cause for low voter turnout within Texas.
The Electoral system is a large part of the cohesiveness in our country and requires the distribution of support throughout our election process. This paper will describe the structure and function of the Electoral College, will compare the Electoral College to a popular vote approach for elections, and assess the value of an individual citizen’s
“ While compulsion of any kind is a restriction, so is the compulsion to drive only on the right side of the road.” ( “Is It Time To Consider Mandatory Voting Laws? Worsening Voting Statistics Make a Strong Case.” by John W. Dean.) One way voter turnout can increase is by compulsory (required) voting.
Abi H. Civic Reflection Issue 1- Change in Point of View: In Canada, voter turnout has become a major issue; as there is a large amount of the population that does not vote in elections. Back in 2008, a total of 58% of the countries` population voted in the election. This is a startling low number, which since has begun to increase only slightly in recent years. In a democratic society, voting is essential for it to function with its full potential. Doing so enacts one of your basic responsibilities as a citizen, as well as shows that you are staying involved in your community and government.
Retrieved from http://www.fairus.org/facts/us_laws Justwan, F. (2015). Disenfranchised minorities: Trust, definitions of citizenship, and noncitizen voting rights in developed democracies. International Political Science Review, 36(4), 373-392. doi:10.1177/0192512113513200 Logan, J.R., Darrah, J., & Oh, S. (2012). The impact of race and ethnicity, immigration and political context on participation in American electoral politics.
Since the population has a lack of education, we do not think americans have the ability to vote wisely. We think
Body: I. College students have the worst turnout rates for elections. A. The main problem stems from the fact that students are not familiar with the processes of voting and registration. a) Many students have a misconception that they have to vote in their home towns b) In an article published by CNBC entitled Why College Students Aren’t Voting written by Maya Kamani on October 15th, states that registering for an absentee ballot will allow you to vote on campus (Kamani). c) A&M should inform their students of registration and election procedures, so that all students will actively participate.