Why did 60% of the voters stay home?

[hedgehog]

I'm assuming that's 60% of registered voters, so actually there are a lot more unregistered people out there, too. Have people given up on politics? Are they too busy making a living to pay attention? When most Americans don't vote, that's a serious symptom of deeper problems.

[Horse with no Name]

1. It was the midterms

Turnout is always low.
However, it was also very high for a midterm.
Some people work, some people might have been ill, some might have been out of town.
There are multitudes of reasons people don't vote.

[WI_DEM]

2. midterm elections traditonally bring out less voters than presidential

elections, but for a midterm election this was apparently a very good turnout. But there is a problem in this country and even in presidential years turnout is not as good as many other countries which take voting more seriously.

[bryant69]

3. Voting is for geeks, man.

You'd have to be some kind of square to vote.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[FightingIrish]

4. In Oregon with mail-in ballots, voter turn-out was almost 70%

[hedgehog]

15. Is voting an Oregon thing or so more people vote when they can

mail in a ballot? We may want to push this if it will increase participation. How do you challenge or intimidate a mail-in ballot?

[Quantess]

17. Maybe. I used to be an OR voter.

The vote-by-mail is great! You can curl up with a cup of coffee, read the voter's pamphlet as you go, and take your time. It's very convenient. No waiting in lines. I'm surprised more states don't have this.

[Red Right and BLUE]

22. That's it. I want it too!

We should have this option everywhere.

[Quantess]

24. As I recall, it was a ballot measure back in the 90s.

Voters got to vote on whether they wanted Vote By Mail.

At the time, some people voiced concern that a domineering spouse might coerce their partner's vote. It doesn't seem to be a problem now.

[0rganism]

21. vote-by-mail upped statewide turnout by about 25%

Prior to that, Oregon wasn't much different for turnout than other states.

There are many pro's to vbm, and a few con's; overall, it's been hugely successful.

[Arugula Latte]

23. Each envelope is signed and the signature is checked against the database.

I don't know why more states don't do this (well, unless they're controlled by Rethugs who want to surpress the vote) ... Seriously, it's a great system. You can vote over a matter of a few weeks. They don't have to recruit poll workers. Weather isn't as much of a factor. There are lots of locations to drop your ballot off if you don't get it in the mail on time. You get a big fat voter guide each time that has statements from each candidate and lays out each ballot measure (with arguments pro and con from various interest groups -- so you can really tell who is behind what).

[AndyA]

5. Most Americans today are complacent and lazy.

They don't care about anything as long as it doesn't have a direct impact on them. They just don't care. They are too self-centered. They think corruption and politics go hand in hand.

They start to get concerned when it's too late. When their jobs are outsourced, and they find there are no good jobs to replace the one they lost. When it costs $100 to fill up the SUV. When they can't put food on the table, or clothes on their backs. When a hurricane comes and destroys everything they own. Then, some of them get involved.

Until then, it takes effort and time to vote, and they just don't care. They're stupid, lazy, ignorant, and they just don't care. Not a nice description of Americans, but it's true. And sadly, they're the majority.

[unpossibles]

6. I bet if they had some sort of incentive people would show up...

like the sports teams do.

Obviously, the real incentive is a government that is actually by the people, so i am being somewhat facetious

[Quantess]

31. Arizona tried that.

A ($1000?) cash prize to a random voter, similar to a raffle ticket or lottery. It didn't pass.

[jaxhud]

7. Most of America is completely oblivious.

Have you ever seen one of Jay Leno's man-on-the-street segments? I think it's better that some people choose not to vote.

[newyawker99]

29. Hi jaxhud!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[leftofthedial]

8. working three minimum wage jobs

makes it hard to vote

plus, a huge bloc totally hates Democrats and "liberals" and would never vote for them. But this time, they couldn't make themselves vote for the party of corruption, failed phony war, lies and page buggering. So they stayed home.

[npincus]

9. if the Draft is ever re-instituted, that's your draft pool

right there... maybe then they'll give a shit about the future of this country.

[Justitia]

10. Election Day should be a Nat'l Holiday. Those who want to vote, but work 3 jobs would be able to.

As for the rest of the apathetic, lazy, cynical others - oh well, they get the gov't they deserve.

[SharonRB]

11. We actually had over 56 percent in Michigan turn out

In some places it was well over 70 percent.

I'm sure our governor's race had a lot to do with it, but our turnout was pretty much the same as in a presidential year.

[whistle]

12. It appears the turnout rates are based on Voting-Eligible Population

...but both statistics are available.

2004 Voting-Age and Voting-Eligible Population Estimates and Voter Turnout
Last Updated: 6/5/06


United States

Voting-Age Population....................221,285,099
Non-citizen..............8.45%
Prison..................1,490,169
Probation...............2,387,283
Parole.................. 474,632
Total Ineligible Felon ....................3,158,443
Overseas Eligible .........................3,308,145
Voting-Eligible Population...............202,746,417
Highest Office...........................122,294,978
Total Turnout ...........................123,535,883
VAP Highest Office Rate........ 55.27%
VEP Highest Office Rate........ 60.32%
VEP Total Turnout Rate......... 60.93%

<link> http://elections.gmu.edu/Voter_Turnout_2004.htm

[skipos]

13. Same reason 45% stayed home in McGovern vs. Nixon

because they are lazy.

[stillcool]

14. If I had moved lately...

I may not have bothered. If I thought that I would have to wait 3-4 hours to vote, after I'd worked all day, and my eligibility might get challenged, in which case my vote wouldn't count anyway....I don't know. I think if information concerning all aspects of our government were more easily available, and registration were not so problematic, we might have an interested society. It is not easy to inform oneself these days, with the lack of transparency and monopolized media. Many people are too busy surviving, and don't know enough to care.

[ComerPerro]

16. Republicans have convinced everyone that all politicans are as bad

as the current Repigs.

[hedgehog]

19. Let's hope Nancy Pelosi keeps the Democrats in the news

The more bills that get passed by the Dems that hit people where is matters, the better off we are. Even if Bush vetos the bills, it'll show that there is a difference worth fighting for. Starting out with a new minimum wage is a great idea. I just hope she doesn't compromise this by lowering the new wage.

[Xenotime]

18. They were freepers who knew they were going to lose.

I talked to one on Tuesday.

[emulatorloo]

20. Cuz they don't want to vote, it bores them, scared of Jury duty, have

better things to do, they have to much integrety to participate in the corrupt process, they are too tired, it doesn't matter who you vote for etc.

At least those are the reasons I have heard.

[myrna minx]

25. I have actually had people tell me that they won't vote because

that do not want to be called for jury duty. That was a new one for me.

[BadgerKid]

26. Guess they shouldn't drive either then.

Voting or having a driver's license can put you on the list.

[myrna minx]

27. I know, it's such a bizarre excuse. n/t

[emulatorloo]

30. I convinced a non-voter to vote in 2004

and I swear, two month later he was called up for jury duty.

I never heard the end of it!

[Lindacooks]

28. Since the people of this country have always had the right to vote

(whether or not it's been counted), they take it for granted. They don't understand what a fundamental right it is. They've never been through a war on their soil and haven't lived under a true dictatorship, so they don't get how precious it is.

And they're lazy.

[NNN0LHI]

32. Voting requires a minimal amount of thinking which some are not up to

Scary isn't it?

Don