Low Voter Turnout: A Recipe for an Unhealthy Democracy

by Allie Pizzuto

Low voter turnout in the United States is a pervasive problem that requires our prompt attention.  Citizens of the Unites States have the privilege to elect the President and members of Congress.  This privilege serves as the backbone of our nation’s representative form of democratic government.   If we do not participate in national elections, then it is more likely than not that our elected officials will not truly represent a broad cross section of our citizenry.  This will adversely impact federal laws passed in America, and also serve to weaken our national and international interests.  Actively participating in national elections serves to strengthen the legitimacy of our government, which is significantly weakened due to low voter turnout. 

           

Historically, voter turnout has swung like a pendulum over the years, rising and falling from one national election to another but never rising to levels of turnout experienced by other Western democracies.  Interestingly, voter turnout in U.S. national elections rose dramatically over a twelve year period from 1948 to 1960, but systematically dropped in almost every election afterwards until 1988 when voter turnout represented not more than fifty percent of the eligible voter pool.   Voter turnout has yet again swung like a pendulum since 1988.  For example, in 1996 voter turnout represented 52.6% of the eligible voter pool and by 2004 surpassed the 1968 level and grew to a healthier 61%.

           

Voter turnout is adversely affected by socio-economic factors such as the income levels of eligible voters.  Apparently, one study found significant inconsistencies among voter participation across wage earners, noting that approximately 86% of the eligible voter pool earning more than $75,000 indicated that they cast their votes to elect the nation’s president while only 52% of eligible voters earning less than $15,000 participated in a presidential election.   This necessarily demonstrates that America’s political process is highly influenced by the opinions of our citizens who command a higher income.  Similarly, perceived differences among eligible voters regarding their ability to effect change in national policy gives rise to low voter participation and an overall disengagement from political participation.    

In addition to socio-economic factors, other barriers such as registration issues and inconvenient election voting schedules (e.g., voting during the workday) gives rise to low voter turnout.  These barriers inflate the current levels of inequality that already exist in voter turnout participation among eligible voters in the low to high income brackets.  One solution to increase voter turnout would be to remove these barriers and significantly lessen the gap that exists in discrepancies among eligible voters.  For example, additional eligible voters who usually forego voting would probably participate in national elections if they were able to vote on a weekend (rather than during the workday).  Permitting weekend voting would also increase voter participation by eligible voters attending college on a full or part time basis. 

Although changes can be made to increase voter participation, motivating voters to actively participate in national elections and cast their votes is a stumbling block that is not easily overcome.  One way to instill motivation in eligible voters is to change misguided perceptions about voting.  Voting is not a passive activity, meaning that we do not simply cast a vote.  On the contrary, voting involves our active participation in understanding the issues and how the issues impact us, as human beings.  Active participation in the voting process is crucial to maintaining a strong democracy in America, which we will be unable to maintain over the long term if we continue to perceive voting as just casting a vote.  America’s citizens need to know that their identity and opinions matter, and that not only is it a privilege to vote and actively engage in America’s political process and future but it is also our civic duty.