Poll: Despite Record Turnout, 80 Million Americans Didn't Vote. Here's Why

[TheProle]

More Americans voted in 2020 than in any other presidential election in 120 years. About 67% of eligible voters cast ballots this year, but that still means a third did not.

That amounts to about 80 million people who stayed home.

To better understand what motivates these nonvoters, NPR and the Medill School of Journalism commissioned Ipsos to conduct a survey of U.S. adults who didn't vote this year. The Medill school's graduate students did deep dives into various aspects of the survey here.

Nonvoters' reasons for not voting include:

not being registered to vote (29%)
not being interested in politics (23%)
not liking the candidates (20%)
a feeling their vote wouldn't have made a difference (16%)
being undecided on whom to vote for (10%)

They are disengaged, disaffected and don't believe politics can make a difference in their lives. They are also more likely to be Latino, younger, make less money and have lower levels of education than voters.

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/15/945031391/poll-despite-record-turnout-80-million-americans-didnt-vote-heres-why

GOTV!

[maxsolomon]

1. Voting is your DUTY as a Citizen.

[Bengus81]

2. The number of voters would jump by millions IF the Electoral College was thrown in the dumpster n/t

[LisaM]

3. Quit making excuses for them.

I am sick of it. Their vote or non-vote affects my life and a lot of other lives. It now affects the world stage, too. People need to grow up.

[Polybius]

4. I was a teenage voter in the 90's

I listed to talk radio while my friends listed to music. None of my friends voted for at least another 5-10 years. I was conidered the oddball for being interested.

[Bluesaph]

5. Thats why we need to open up our own mouths!

I have been registering Latinos to vote here in Dallas. Making good use of my time. Every one of them thought their vote didn’t matter. Every one of them thinks it’s a rigged system. Every single one didn’t know how to register or where to vote!

Come on, folks! We can engage people!

[CBHagman]

9. Thank you for taking that action, and I'd love to know...

...which organization you're working with.

I've participated in get-out-the-vote efforts but not registration, and I'd like to hear more.

[Bluesaph]

11. I'm stuck in Dallas with no car.

So I talk to all my Uber drivers. Also to my hair and nail people.

And I just signed up to do postcards.

I’ve signed up people here where I’m staying as well. It’s so easy. Just talk to people. Meet them where they are at. Listen. Share something about yourself and they will feel good about doing their part. Most people just don’t feel anyone really listens or cares.

[CBHagman]

18. My hat's off to you.

And I wish I could rec this more than once.

Thank you for doing the postcards; I know a number of people who are hitting the ground running on the postcards.

[TheProle]

10. Kudos to you!

[Johnny2X2X]

6. Missing one obvious choice

"Takes too long to vote."

I know people who don't vote in their city because the lines are too long. A lot of people vote before or after work, if they drive past and see a ling around the block, a lot of people forgo voting.

There are places in this country, mostly in Red States, where the inner cities who don't vote Republican are so understaffed and under resources for polling stations that people can sepnd all day waiting in line. Millions of voters just don't bother becvause Republicans have made voting so hard for them.

[Bluesaph]

13. This why you have to make it so they feel it's worth it!

Share a story (hardship) about yourself. Then they will open up about something about themselves. Once they do and you show concern you can explain how things can change and WILL change if we make it a priority to stand in that line no matter what.

If it’s healthcare talk about Biden and healthcare.
If it’s work talk about unions.
If it’s education talk about trump plan to gut education.
If it’s gas talk about how Biden has negotiated to lower prices.
If it’s inflation talk about how trump mismanaged the pandemic and Biden saved our economy.
If it’s food talk about how Biden called stores to ask them to lower prices.

Look at Bidens fact sheet on his website and know your stuff then just be willing to be a nice person who listens, empathizes and wants to help.

And make them feel the power of their voice so they talk to their friends and families.

[Johnny2X2X]

15. Partly true

But when Republican voters wait time in some states is a fraction of heavy Democratic areas, it's a lot of motivation you're relying on.

There needs to be a Federal takeover of state elections in places like Georgia, Texas, and Louisianna. They nasically make it impossible for most minorities to vote there.

There is no excuse for people waiting 8 hours to vote in heavy blue areas where as most red areas it's like 15 minutes.

[Bluesaph]

17. I agreed 💯

But to get it done we need to win. So let’s do our part even if it’s unfair.

[Bluesaph]

14. Honest question. Why are you here?

The bottom line is we know we have to fight for our country. Your words help no one.

[Bluesaph]

20. I am helping a sick family member.

[orthoclad]

8. Harassing and haranguing won't GOTV

Morale is everything.

Some of those categories are fixable.
The Reich wing is doing everything they can to block registration. What can we do to fix that?
Not interested in politics? Make it about survival. Make it about class war. (it's only class war when we fight back)
Don't like the candidates? Then vote AGAINST one, the one with the written plan for fascism.

The voters are roughly in thirds. The red and blue thirds are committed. That other third is a vast resource. Feeling superior won't stop fascism. We need to reach out a hand and LISTEN. Help the alienated and powerless feel like they count.

The Right has jiggered elections and the College. We need massive numbers to beat their superior gamesmanship. Just think if we brought out even half of that 80 million...

Motivation is the key. Every time someone proposes a clear, strong plan of action like impeaching the Extreme Court or DC statehood, e.g., I hear "it won't work". Well, if we tried instead of saying "it's too haaaard", we might have kept the House in 22 - even if we failed at the efforts. That anomic third might have caught some excitement.

The right never gives up. It took them 50 years to break Roe. They're patient, well-organized, well-funded, and they keep. coming. back. They don't sit on their laurels. They keep at it.

Feeling superior won't stop fascism.

[Bluesaph]

19. No one said anything about harassing.

Jesus people here are so rude.

[orthoclad]

21. I didn't say you did

But just look at the many posts here calling people idiots and morons for not voting. I get an overall tone of overweening moral superiority.

"people here"?

[Emile]

12. As a veteran, I feel like it's disrespectful not to vote.

It's a patriotic duty!

[Bluesaph]

16. Talk to one person a week between now and the election.

Talk about your experiences as a vet and how much you would appreciate them taking the time to vote. Walk them through registration and show them how to help their friends! Tell them to think of you in whatever war you experienced as they stand in line. And thank them profusely.

Thank you for your service.

[orthoclad]

22. Recced for current exposure