Why don't enough people vote?

1. 66

   Michele Travisposted 11 years ago

   Why don't enough people vote?
   
   More than 130 million people turned out to vote Tuesday, the most ever to vote in a presidential election.
   In 2008 the Presidential election
   with ballots still being counted in some precincts into Wednesday morning, an estimated 64 percent of the electorate turned out, making 2008 the highest percentage turnout in generations. This is amazing.  So, why don't people vote?  They blame the president but they don't vote. Is there any reason for this?

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2. 83

   CJWood71posted 11 years ago

   I do not think there is one single reason for why many people do not vote.  I feel that many people believe their vote will not make a difference one way or another.  They feel they would be simply wasting their time going to the polls.
   
   Another factor is the campaigns themselves.  They last so long and the candidates spend more time putting down their opponents.  Voters are not sure who to believe and end up getting frustrated with the whole process.
   
   Last of all, many voters do not believe in the candidates.  They often feel that it is simply trying to pick the least of two evils.  They feel no matter who they elect, it will make little difference in the end.
   
   It is sad to see the lack of concern held by so many.  I feel we all need to do our homework and get involved with how the country is run.

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      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you. There is not a single reason. However, all you need is a computer, you can see what a candidate has done. You can contact a candidate and tell him or her why you like or dislike what they have done.

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3. 59

   michememeposted 11 years ago

   Michele, I can tell you African-Americans haven't voted for years because they didn't think their vote counted. No matter what, everything was against us as a people. As for me, I have always voted, I knew the importance of it through my grandparents and mother. So voting really has never been an option. I cast my first vote at 18 as I should have and haven't missed one election since. When you know better you do better. It's sad for miniorties and women not to exercise this right that many died for.

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   1. 66

      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am glad you vote. If more African Americans vote the more politicians will help them. At least that is what I believe.

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4. 60

   Deborah Brooksposted 11 years ago

   A lot of people I talk to that do not vote thinks it doesn't matter. ..A lot of people don't care. they have no business blaming the president or anyone else if they do not care enough to vote.

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   1. 66

      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe when they see their rights being taken away, then they will care.

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      Rhonda D Johnsonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Our rights are already being taken away and people still don't care.  Take their toys away and then they will care.

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      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Rhonda you are correct, our rights are being taken slowly. I wonder when they will take the toys away.

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      Rhonda D Johnsonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh they'll keep the toys coming as long as we can afford to buy them.  That's part of the illusion.  Tell people they have a right to the toys and they won't notice when their right to an education is taken away.

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5. 66

   Clive Donegalposted 11 years ago

   We have had too much freedom for too long for many people to appreciate it. Besides, it is easier to complain than to do the hard work of being informed and involved.

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   1. 66

      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is true, sad but true.

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6. 41

   H P Roychoudhuryposted 11 years ago

   It is most likely that people lost their faith over the political leaders because what they said before election is not done after the election and lot of common people remains the same or rather get deteriorated.

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   1. 66

      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is true, but we can fire them.  We are the bosses.  If we hire them, then we can fire them.  We can lower their wages. There is a lot we can do, we just need to get together and do it.

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7. 76

   arbposted 11 years ago

   This could be a hub. Too often, we are asked to vote for the lesser of two evils, not much of a choice when you dislike them both. This is a subject worthy of  much discussion. Are we getting the best or the best that money can buy? Are we subconsciously refusing to participate in a tainted system? Do lengthy campaings riddled with character assualts, dishonest advertising and anything is fair as long as you win agendas, promote the trust and involvement of the electorate? Refusing to buy products from a corupt company mandates change or ruin for that company. It doesn't work in politics. It won't bring them to ruin. We have to vote just to preserve the integrity of so noble an excercise. We have forgotten that such nobility, whether it brings change or not, preserves the power of individuals to rule themselves. We have some changes to make in campaign laws, term limits and the absurdity of monetary influence upon so noble an endeavor as the voting and selecting candidates. When we force those changes, it will be easier to see the impact of "the people" upon democracy. Until then, too many will refuse to vote for any evil regardless of how they dress it. I understand the apathy, but blaming messenger will not change the message.

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   1. 66

      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You are right, about blaming the messenger.  We also need to tell person we are voting for or against why we are voting for or against them. We need to let politicians know what we want.  WE are the bosses.

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8. 57

   geordmcposted 11 years ago

   Simply put, They don't care as long as their lives can go on with as little disruption as possible

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      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      But what will people do when disruption does happen?

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      Rhonda D Johnsonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      cuss and blame the fall guy

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      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      But, will they vote him out? Or just cuss him out. I wish they would just vote him out. That is just my wish.

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9. 76

   daskittlez69posted 11 years ago

   Most people don't even know who is running for office.  Much less what is going on in the country.

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   1. 66

      Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't even know how to comment on this one. I just don't.

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      Rhonda D Johnsonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      it's too true

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10. 60

    Rhonda D Johnsonposted 11 years ago

    Although it is true that people may voice different reasons for not voting, it all boils down to people feeling disillusioned.  They don’t trust the candidates to tell them the truth.  They don’t rust the media to tell them the truth.  They don’t trust the education system to tell them the truth.  These sectors still think the way to deal with people’s disillusionment is to rebuild the illusion.  In an election system where popularity is more important than substance, I don’t think the candidates and the media lie to deceive people.  They lie because they know the truth is something people don’t really want to hear.  Many people don’t want to rebuild the illusion, so they stay home

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    1. 66

       Michele Travisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       So, it just goes on and on.

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11. 0

    Old Empresarioposted 11 years ago

    The non-vote is a vote of "no confidence" in the electoral system. There is almost no difference between a Democrat and a Republican.

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