The Internet, social media, news and campus gossip have all caught strands of presidential election banter, even with well over a year until election time. Before we know it, Election Day will be upon us. But will we all cast our ballots?
Low voter-turnout is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue among American politics. This is alarming considering the steadily increasing amount of people registered to vote. Compared to some countries, the U.S. leads in the amount of registered voters, but falls short in those who go to the polls.
According to The Pew Research Center, of the 84.3 percent registered voters, only 53.6 percent voted in the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. Compared to countries such as Denmark, with 87.7 percent registered voters, and 81.8 percent of them voting in their 2011 Prime Minister election.
Countless amounts of self-proclaimed political scientists, major news network devotees and the like will gladly inform you of why to distrust government and propose solutions to “broken” American politics. So why isn’t this passion prevalent enough to engage society to vote for someone worthy of implementing these solutions?
“My vote doesn’t count!” comes to mind as the go-to crutch for those who don’t hold value to presidential elections. Far-fetched, presumably. However, when no more than ten states are chosen as campaign grounds, legitimacy of government continues to weaken. The sovereign no longer retains monopolization of state power; perhaps people losing hope that their voice being heard isn’t such an absurd desire.
Creating a universal system of voting registration will perhaps establish an initiative for those who don’t vote because of registration issues. Incentives such as promotion from pop-culture icons, or receiving discounts and services in return for votes could popularize voting for the masses. Rather than focus campaigns on swing and safe states, a nationally valued voting population seen by candidates can promote the value of all votes.
Whether you blame ignorance or disenchantment, it seems that anyone who holds a position in their ideal model of politics devalues their worth in the polls. It’s an off-putting contrast that has established a norm throughout eligible voters. If the voting process isn’t utilized, our control of an immersive democracy may be lost altogether.
