Reasons Why Americans Fail to Vote

According to the United States Census Bureau, 64 percent of those eligible to vote in the 2004 presidential election did so. This totaled 126 million people, which was 15 million more than the number of voters in the 2000 presidential election. Being President of the United States is of unquantifiable importance that is heightened in times of war and recession when the country is most vulnerable. Yet, Americans fail to vote consistently for a number of reasons.

History

The concept of voting for government officials was established in America in 1776. At that time, only white males 21 or over were given the right to vote. After the Civil War in the 1860s, the right to vote was extended to include African-Americans. In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed and women became eligible to vote. The 26th amendment was passed in 1971, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Types

Popular votes in a presidential election are not as influential as electoral votes. Electoral votes are given to each state and the District of Columbia. An electoral vote is given to both senators and all representatives in the House of Representatives. Therefore, the number of electoral votes per state varies. The District of Columbia is given three electoral votes. There are 538 electoral votes total. To win the presidency, a minimum of 270 electoral votes is needed.

Features

In addition to being at least 18 years old, you must be a citizen of the United States to be eligible to vote. Convicted felons are not allowed to vote. Some people may be unable to vote if they are working on Election Day. However, employers are required by law to allow their employees a reasonable amount of time to vote on Election Day. Individuals may also be reluctant to vote if they do not feel assured that their votes will remain confidential. However, all votes cast by an individual must be done in private and remain anonymous.

Function

Candidates who win an overwhelming majority of the popular vote may still fail to be elected president if they do not obtain the required number of electoral votes. Therefore, the vote of the people does not directly affect the election of the president. This has led some Americans to believe that their votes do not matter and deter them from voting. Another reason Americans may not vote is because they are not proponents of either candidate.

Considerations

Eligible voters may be unable to vote for personal reasons. They may be suffering from an illness or disability or caring for someone who is. They may be out of town or away from the country at the time. Transportation to and from their polling station may be difficult or costly. Transportation issues can be further complicated in the event of poor weather conditions. Voters may also be unable to or unwilling to wait on potentially long lings to cast their vote.

Resources

• United States Census Bureau