NationStates Jolt Archive

I have voted in every election since I turned 18. I made it a point to learn about the issues and where the candidates stood. It's our civic duty. Part of being a good American. Why do so few young people take the time to vote? It's not very hard, takes so little time, and it's important.

Because most young people dont care! I'm glad to see that you have been voting since you were 18! I plan on doing the same!

i plan on doing the same, but i will tell you why many of my peers do not vote: there is little or no point.

people in power have less integrity than a sponge, and we see that every single day. why vote when the things you beleive in are brushed aside as soon as the person who was championing them gets into power?

No, the reason so few people vote is because America is so stable. They don't need to fear the ascension of anyone to power, because it would not be the end of the world if Kerry or Bush won the election. The United States doesnt put forth many candidates so there's no chance of a dictator entering office. This is bad and good. We should understand that, yes, low voter turnout shows that few people actually care, but it is good that in their country, it is almost incapable of being led into a remarkably bad leadership (no Bush-bashing please). If we lived in a volatile country, momentary coalition alliances could lead a dictator to power. We have so many checks in place to curtail power of the executive, its no wonder not only many in America don't care to vote, but not many in America are willing to be elected to important positions, because with the freedom of America brings the harshest criticism of its leaders.

I can't vote yet, though... Sorry. I will be able to vote in 2006.

Because my peers are lazy, stupid, and too inept to actually do something constructive (like something as trivial as learning about how the government affects their lives every day).

I think it's a combination of being lazy, not caring, and not thinking they counted. More people would vote if the electoral college was thrown out because they'd think tehir votre coutned more, instead of just adding to the margin. Winning a state by 5 votes gets the same result as winning it by 500,000.

Though I personally voted, I had a hard time doing so, because both of the canidates were so similar. Their speeches, if you listen to them, had very little variation. Neither one supported gay marriage (big surprise), neither one knew anything about the Middle East (also, big surprise), and therefore had, essentially, the same rhetoric towards it. My basis for whom I voted was purely who I thought had at least a slight bit more intelligence... though it seems that did not matter either. So, it is no surprise to me that young people, or people in general, feel that voting is not all it is cracked up to be. Just my two cents, though.

I think it's a combination of being lazy, not caring, and not thinking they counted. More people would vote if the electoral college was thrown out because they'd think tehir votre coutned more, instead of just adding to the margin. Winning a state by 5 votes gets the same result as winning it by 500,000.
The electoral college has nothing to do with electing congressmen and senators. The legislature is where the individual voter can have a real impact.

I make a point of knowing the issues and voting.

That said, many of my peers do not vote because they are completely disillusioned with the system and tired of seeing no one but corrupt assholes who obviously failed economics, government, and history classes run for office.

I have voted in every election since I turned 18. I made it a point to learn about the issues and where the candidates stood. It's our civic duty. Part of being a good American. Why do so few young people take the time to vote? It's not very hard, takes so little time, and it's important.

Because most are stupid. Intelligence and wisdom come with age. That's why a lot of old people vote.

They're hungry :D






Oh come, I'm like the only person who HASN'T joked about that...

The electoral college has nothing to do with electing congressmen and senators. The legislature is where the individual voter can have a real impact.
People don't vote in senate races because of ignorance. It's much easier to vote for a guy who feeds you talking points than researching your Senate and House of Reps candidates.

people don't vote because there vote means nothing, in real terms. yeah, fine, it's a nice statement, but it in no way enhances you life, and people have no reason to do it. they're lazy bums, and want something to effect them

Because most are stupid. Intelligence and wisdom come with age. That's why a lot of old people vote.
I thought the ability to learn drasticly decreased after reaching maturity?

What we need is a good election with a wacked out dictator and a way liberal hippy. Then people might vote.

Neither one supported gay marriage (big surprise),
Neither does 65% of the population. I can't vote until the 2008 election, but I definitely will. Part of the problem is that people are perfectly contented and have no fear of government going out of control (even moreso than it has already). Do you honestly think that the framers of theconstitution would be satisfied with what they saw today? Of course not! And it's because people are happy where they are therefore they don't vote. They don't want anything to change, so why bother? This apathy then allows corrupt people to slip into office and stay there as they become more and more power-hungry.

I thought the ability to learn drasticly decreased after reaching maturity?

It does for the vast majority people. Lateralization, baby!

What we need is a good election with a wacked out dictator and a way liberal hippy. Then people might vote.
Neither would ever make it through the primaries.

I have voted in every election since I turned 18. I made it a point to learn about the issues and where the candidates stood. It's our civic duty. Part of being a good American. Why do so few young people take the time to vote? It's not very hard, takes so little time, and it's important.

That is actually not true. If you look at the stats, you'll see that more young voters turned up at this election than in a reeeeally long time.

That is actually not true. If you look at the stats, you'll see that more young voters turned up at this election than in a reeeeally long time.
I thought the percentage of eligible young voters who actually followed through was the same although the actual number was higher.