Why is voter apathy a problem

Here we provide the answers. Not everyone tunes to CNN or the nightly news every evening. Some people are simply not interested in politics, others outright hate it. The last thing they want to do is research politicians or read about the latest election. There is a thread of cynicism that runs through the American electorate. Even the most dedicated voter may feel worn down by the number of elections that occur within a given year.

Additionally, long lines and difficulty voting may discourage individuals from going to the ballot box. Part of encouraging people to go out and vote is to make voting as easy and simple as can be. Consequently, many students leave school at 18 with little to no knowledge of the British political system.

In , fewer than 7, boys took an A-level in government and politics, while only 5, girls chose to study the subject. Only 39 per cent of those under 24 years old planned to vote in , compared to 68 per cent of those aged Indeed, the Brexit vote has been viewed by many commentators as a way for disillusioned voters to put a middle finger up to the political establishment.

A study by Survation found that the largest percentage of people who did not vote in did so because their beliefs were not represented by the parties and candidates.

Additional reasons included trust, with all parties having a track record of breaking manifesto pledges. These are people who live within parliamentary constituencies with safe seats.

If these seats have a strong majority for a party they do not support, they may see little point voting. For instance, a Labour or Liberal Democrat supporter living in the Chipping Barnet constituency may be deterred from voting as this has been a Tory stronghold since its birth in Additionally, with Groups of people who are not eligible to vote include members of the House of Lords, most prisoners, and foreign citizens from outside the UK, Ireland, or the Commonwealth.

Perhaps the most important disenfranchised group, however, are those under Such voter-centered social media campaigns can provide Americans with accurate information about upcoming elections, Election Day transportation options, and registration or absentee voting deadlines, helping to ensure that voting-eligible people are not blocked from voting due to logistical challenges. In recent years, youth civic engagement has increased significantly.

In , students across the country staged walkouts to protest gun violence in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. It is unsurprising that increased activism in response to social issues and outrage over systemic racism and inequality has translated to historic youth turnout during recent years. Through a series of six convenings over a nine-month period, the working group should engage with both young voters and nonvoters.

Over the course of these convenings, the working group would discuss organizing strategies that have bolstered youth civic engagement in recent years as well as potential challenges that young people face when trying to participate in elections.

The working group should also outline policies, at both the state and local level, to increase youth civic engagement. For example, youth preregistration and better-quality civic education in schools could be key first steps to increasing youth civic engagement. The task force should share the messaging memo with nonprofit organizations, grassroots organizations, and think tanks, which can then incorporate these findings in their outreach to youth groups on key policy issues such as democracy reform and climate change.

Additionally, these findings could be used by youth advocacy groups as they work to expand civic engagement in their respective communities. Sam Berger , Stephanie Wylie.

Danielle Root. Jasmine Hardy , Alex Tausanovitch. Peter Gordon Director, Government Affairs. A new task force to investigate and address low voter turnout While states and localities are largely responsible for administering elections, the federal government has a role to play.

The task force could be split into two working groups: The first group would produce largely analytical work investigating and assessing various factors contributing to low voter turnout in the United States, including voter suppression and intimidation, disillusionment in the political process, disinformation and confusion over voter registration and rules or deadlines, and various economic and societal factors.

The second working group would focus on fostering civic activism and engagement among young people since research suggests that voting may be habit-forming. John H. Aldrich, Jacob M. Arelis R.