voter turnout 5.2

Voter Turnout in the United States

The United States has low voter turnout compared to other democracies, influenced by factors such as voter apathy and voter alienation.

Voter Apathy vs. Alienation

  • Voter Apathy: Individuals feel their vote doesn't count and lack interest or motivation to participate.

  • Voter Alienation: Individuals believe they should vote but feel underrepresented and view their vote as insignificant.

Influences on Voter Turnout

  1. Voter Registration:

    • Registration required 30 days in advance; no automatic registration.

    • The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 aimed to increase turnout but did not significantly impact it.

  2. Voter ID Laws:

    • 35 states require ID; some accept various forms, others require government-issued photo ID.

  3. Election Day Issues:

    • Not a holiday; voters often manage work schedules to vote.

    • Average wait time at polls: 14 minutes; 5% of voters wait over 2 hours.

Legislative Responses

  • Help America Vote Act (2002): Established national voting standards; focused on improving voting systems and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

  • Absentee Ballots and Early Voting: Allow voters unable to attend polls on election day to vote by mail; some states offer no-excuse absentee voting or early in-person voting.

Voter Choice Factors

  • Gender: Women tend to vote Democrat; men lean Republican.

  • Age: Older Americans have higher turnout; senior citizens are the most active.

  • Religion: Evangelicals tend toward Republican; Catholics historically vote Democrat; Jewish voters have high turnout and often vote Democrat.

  • Race and Ethnicity: Increased diversity in voting, particularly noted in the 2008 election with Barack Obama; participation among diverse groups has grown since 1990.