Why voter turnout is low in the USA?

Voting is one of the many ways citizens can engage, participate and shows their responsibility towards their country. In the developing democratic countries voting anticipation is much more from its people compared to other less developing democratic countries. However, the same thing is not happening in the USA.

 

Most of the world's democratic countries, including the United States, leave it up to the voters to decide whether to participate in elections. The aggregate number is important but turnout among different group is more crucial. It is shocking for me to came to know about the percentage of voters turnout in the USA as the unite states has been one of most developing democratic countries in the world. However, its voter turnout is among the lowest in the developed democratic countries. Only 42 percent of American voted in 2014 midterm elections. The voters tend to be older and richer than the general population.

 

It's believed in the USA that politicians are more accountable and responsive to wealthy voters not because rich people vote in elections but because they are also more likely to donate to campaigns or work on them to get their candidates elected.

Moreover, Americans have responded differently about the reasons behind the low cast of ballots. For instance, 59% of non voters said they were frustrated by the fact that "nothing ever gets done " in government while 54% cited "corruption" and 42% pointed to the lack of differences between the two parties, some of them have said that politics does not make much difference in their lives and the others believe that the government is run by a few big interests than for the benefit of all people.

 

One of the other huge reasons behind not participating in decision-making is that America leaves it up to voters to decide whether to participate in elections. But there are countries in which voting is mandatory, in some cases backed by small fines for those who decline to vote. Therefore, some countries like Italy, Belgium, Greece, Australia and many others have higher voter participations compared to the USA.

For instance, Australia, the government sends out a letter to apparent non- voters (after the election) giving them an opportunity to give valid reason for why they did not vote, they will be fined if they don't have a good excuse and eventually they will be taken to court and the fines get substantially higher but the same thing is not happening in the USA as a result people are reluctant to feel their responsibility and cast their votes.

 

 

Shukria yari

20153045